Hucknall MP Mark Spencer slams 'desperate' Ashfield Independents over health hub announcement

Mark Spencer, the MP for the constituency of Sherwood which includes the town of Hucknall, has criticised the Ashfield Independents for disclosing potential plans about a new health centre.

Last week, the party confirmed that their preferred location for the proposed Cavell health centre which would see a range of NHS services provided under one roof, was on the site of the derelict former pub The Seven Stars on West Street.

This came as something of a surprise to many residents as the Ashfield Independents had previously championed Piggins Croft carpark as their location of choice.

Mr Spencer was taken aback by the public announcement and made it clear he viewed it as electioneering ahead of the by-election set to take place in the Hucknall Central Ward later this month.

Taking to his Facebook page, he wrote: "The Ashfield Independents are so desperate for good news given their mismanagement at Ashfield DC and their plans to destroy the Hucknall Greenbelt they once again are putting our health centre in jeopardy.

"Only last year they announced they had the money to build it when they didn't, undoing all my efforts with the Treasury.

"Now desperate for good news (and to try and claw back votes for the Hucknall Central by-election) they finally recognise Piggins Croft is not the right location; however they have now jumped the gun on a new location.

"No one within the NHS has spoken about another site and clearly this speculation could make the price of any possible site increase and the planning process more difficult. I have written to the NHS asking for a [sic] urgent meeting to discuss the future of the new health centre.

"When will they learn?

"Their desperate attempts to regain any good will with the people of Hucknall are just damaging our future.

"Step aside, you don't know what you're doing, you're making everything worse.

"My message? Stick to Kirkby and Sutton like you normally do."

Irked by the criticism, the leader of the Ashfield Independents, Councillor Jason Zadrozny, who also leads Ashfield District Council defended the site selection.

He said: "We've been working on this for over 3 years and the news that the Super Health Centre could be located at the Seven Stars Pub on West Street is great news. I have personally ensured that the Council is contributing £1.1million for this excellent project. I and other Ashfield Independent councillors have been in meetings with health bosses including the local Clinical Commissioning Group - now the Integrated Care Board on a number of occasions."

He then went on to issue a scathing criticism of Mr Spencer's representation of Hucknall during his time as MP.

"Mark Spencer's comments are laughable. I've not seen him in the meetings we've had to make this super health centre a reality. Politics is not a spectator sport and I'm afraid Mark Spencer has been a passenger in this whole process. He spent more time defending Boris Johnson than actually standing up for Hucknall residents. It's no wonder residents are turning their backs on the Tories who have delivered nothing and just resort to this petty mudslinging. It's the Ashfield Independents who are delivering in every way for Hucknall – the new health centre will be the icing on the cake." 

Hucknall Nub News has contacted the NHS for a comment on the site selection process and to clarify statements made by both sides.