COUNCILLORS have called in a decision made by Allerdale Borough Council's executive committee to dispose of land on a major Workington car park to make room for a new NHS diagnostic centre in the town - calling for more transparency in the decision-making process.

Whilst Labour councillors on Allerdale say they 'fully support' the provision of a new diagnostic centre, criticism has been levelled at the 'untransparent' way that they think the executive have dealt with the process.

They say they have brought the decision up for a call-in to shed light on the transaction, and reassure residents of the public benefit.

Keswick councillor Markus Campbell-Savours said: “The Labour Party fully support the provision of an NHS diagnostic centre in Workington.

"Our concerns are at the unnecessarily untransparent way in which Allerdale were approaching the land sale.

“We have called in the decision to shed light on the transaction, to reassure residents that the public benefits will be realised.

"This is why we have requested a representative from North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) attend to give details of the services to be provided and their impact on existing provision in Cumberland.”

At a meeting of the executive in November, Allerdale Borough Council's executive resolved, that subject to the receipt of an updated valuation report, the Council agreed in principle to dispose of part of the Central Car Park in Workington to North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust at nil cost.

A spokesman for Allerdale Borough Council, said: "This call-in will be considered in accordance with the relevant policies and protocols."

The £15million community diagnostic centre (CDC) has been approved by NHS England and building work will start in March 2023, opening to patients in spring 2024.

The Centre will be located next to Allerdale Borough Council’s Innovation Hub which is also under development in Central Way, Workington.

GRAHAM has been appointed as the principal construction contractor for the development.

The centre has been proposed for development after the NHS trust estimated that referrals to diagnostic services in north Cumbria have doubled in comparison to pre-Covid numbers, which has led to longer waiting times.

NCIC says it has been working hard to reduce waiting times by providing temporary mobile units at its two main hospital sites in Carlisle and Whitehaven.

The new CDC provides a more permanent solution separate to the busy main hospitals, is said to be a more permenant solution. 

Following a call-in request from Cllr’s Cannon, Smith and Campbell-Savours, a meeting of the overview and scrutiny commitee will take place on March 3 at Allerdale House, Workington.