A DOCTOR’S surgery could be returning to Mickleton if plans get the go-ahead.

Newland Homes has submitted outline plans to Cotswold District Council to build 70 homes and a GP surgery on land next to Arbour Close and Cotswold Edge.

Mickleton has not had a doctor’s surgery since 2008, when the former Warwickshire PCT decided to close the former one down and relocate to the main practice in Lower Quinton, three-and-a-halfmiles away.

Andrew Billings, of Newland Homes, said: “One of the overwhelming responses received at our consultation event was the loss of the Mickleton GP surgery in 2008 and the struggle many residents had in attending the new surgery at Lower Quinton.

“Whilst a ‘big ask’, we worked closely with the partners of Meon Medical Centre and they have now committed to bring services back to the village with the provision of a purpose-built surgery”.

Life-long Mickleton resident John Kinchin said a surgery would be welcomed.

“There are so many people who have to travel down to Lower Quinton, it would be nice to get one back in the village,” he said. “Mickleton has a very high population of retired people and some of them find it difficult walking and catching a bus.”

But Leigh Remington, chairman of action group Mickleton CARE (Campaign Against Reckless Expansion) which formed in response to an array of proposed developments in and around the village, said developments were happening too fast.

“It’s another development we don’t need,” he said. “But the doctor’s surgery is one positive thing.”

Parish councillor Chris Moorecroft said they were trying to get community feedback.

“I think we would welcome a doctor’s surgery but not necessarily at the cost of 70 homes,” he said.

Johnson Clarke, partner at Meon Medical Centre, said: “Meon Medical Centre is constantly looking to improve the NHS care for their patients and for this reason there have been discussions with the developer on building a branch surgery within their development plans.”