Bronllys Well Being Park CLT Ltd is meeting this evening to ask its members and the community on how it should reach its community-healthcare vision with Powys Teaching Health Board.

The Community Land Trust board said that while it is aware of Powys Teaching Health Board’s [PTHB] commitments and workload due to the pandemic, “certain issues and lack of progress” at Bronllys Community Hospital over the years are of “great concern”.

The group claims that promises by the health board to review the Bronllys site in 2018 - with full local engagement - have not been met or implemented to date.

BWBP is a non-for-profit group which is looking at the possibility of a wellbeing campus with the community hospital at its heart.

The Campus would feature essential health services - already available on site now - comprising of the adult mental health unit, ambulance station, concert hall, day hospital, pain clinic, rehabilitation and physiotherapy, services for People with learning difficulties, other specialist wards and Powys Teaching Health Board head quarters together with a telehealth centre to support technology enabled care services as required.

The development the flagship wellbeing park for the benefit of the surrounding rural community could feature “substantial assets” such as community lead housing, co-care housing, co-housing, homes for people with neurological needs. A community transport hub with plug-in hybrid & electric vehicle centre, an international cycling and sports centre meeting place and the Ccapel renovation and refurbishment.

It could also feature a home for Bronllys neurological care, a cafe, a shop, an office, community hire, restore and repair shop, community nursery, community orchard, therapy room, stood and conference centre, Men and Women in sheds, “Place to be” cancer support, shepherd huts, respite retreats, solar energy tunnel, wetland habitat, wildlife pond, and sports like tennis, netball and wellbeing walks.

However Bronllys Well Being Park [BWBP] spokesperson said that while £500,000 worth of investments were made by PTHB and Powys County Council to The Prince’s Foundation in 2011 and to the Arwain-funded feasibility studies from 2018, none of the recommendations by either have been progressed.

The spokesperson said: “Over the past eight years, BWBP have attempted to ensure the Bronllys Community Hospital doesn’t become another mid-Wales derelict hospital site, investing years of voluntary input.

Fortunately, the Bronllys site has been retained as a hospital and has been available to be used as a vaccination centre. There is excellent news regarding the proposed development of a state of the art training department.

“In 2015, the Welsh Government supported BWBP to work in co-production with the PCC and PTHB to develop proposals for the Bronllys site, after 3,122 local residents signed a petition to save the site.

“It has been an extreme uphill challenge since the change of CEO in 2015. Bob Hudson actively encouraged community collaboration.”

The group said that is has been a “tremendous challenge” working with the health board since 2015 and that, while several-on site projects were verbally agreed with the health board, they “failed to come to fruition”.

it said is mainly because the PTHB Executive Team have not provided the written permissions such as Terms of Reference and Letters of Comfort to allow certain projects to progress - such as the chapel renovation and measured mile walk together with maintaining and developing the work undertaken by veterans like the Marking Time Sculpture, At Ease Garden and Woodland Walk.

The spokesperson said: “On many occasions over several years, the CLT Board have tried to liaise and meet with the PTHB to discuss and debate a number of issues in a collaborative effort to resolve matters. However, the BWBP have consistently been disappointed by the PTHB cancelling meetings, at the very last minute without adequate explanation.

“BWBP have been wrongly maligned about submitted proposals. However BWBP remain optimistic that issues with the PTHB can still be resolved, considering that the proposals greatly benefit local communities.

“Therefore, we cannot be sidelined any longer, we all deserve better and we need to know there is actually a decent and definite proposals for the Bronllys site. A Health and Well Being Park with all the benefit and prosperity that will retain and bring to this area.

“Please help us to promote the wishes of the local communities, let us have your views, have your say BWBP is dedicated to communicate these to Welsh Government, Local County Councillor representatives, together with Powys County Council and Powys Teaching Health Board Executive Teams. It is your health and wellbeing that counts.”

Powys Teaching Health Board have been approached for a comment.

The Bronllys Well Being Park CLT Ltd meeting will take place at 7pm tonight - Monday, October 25 - at Royston Hall in Bronllys and is open to the 560+ members as well a other members of the community.