A new mental health and community hub in the heart of Newport, which should have opened almost a year ago but was hit by noise complaints over the building’s air conditioning, will be handed over to the NHS by contractors next week.
It was 4 years ago that the Isle of Wight NHS Trust was awarded millions of pounds to purchase the former HMV building on the High Street in Newport to enable the creation of an integrated hub, bringing together mental health services, adult social care and third sector providers.
Over 12 months later, in May 2022, planning permission was sought from the Isle of Wight Council to transform the former retail unit – with permission granted the following month. This was followed by a variation application in August 2022 (approved in October 2022) and a second variation application in June 2023 (approved in July 2023).
In August 2023, it was reported that building works were progressing well with things on track to enable the hub to open in Spring 2024. However, for months and months the building has sat empty, but seemingly complete.
Island Echo understands the lengthy delay in bringing the new hub into operational use has been down to the building’s air conditioning units, which are said to have been too noisy and have attracted complaints from locals.
This significant delay has had an impact on other services and departments elsewhere on the Island. Building leases have had to be extended and the lack of amalgamation of services is, allegedly, creating a ‘backlog’ for other teams who are due to move.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel…
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has confirmed to Island Echo that the opening of the new facility was indeed delayed to allow for necessary work to address a noise issue from the building’s ‘external engineering services’ – but that work has now been completed.
The Trust expects to take handover from the contractor within the next week, after which the facility will be transferred to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for use, as planned.
No opening date for the new mental health and community hub has been given, but this week’s news suggests the 4-year+ project is finally nearing its end.
In the meantime, Community, Mental Health and Learning Disability teams continue to operate from their existing locations.
OK this hub is needed but why put it in the middle of a high street? This building should be a shop, preferably HMV.
Er? What? HMV was there. And it closed
Surely the noise should have been sorted before the paperwork was signed .
Shame on those complaining! 4 years delay is too late for those who have now committed suicide due to lack of services and mental health support! May you never have mental health issues due to death in your family or abuse or business failure or any other unexpected troubles! You should be disgusted with yourselves! The town is noisy anyway! Move somewhere quieter? Oh don’t you have a choice? Nor do mental health patients! Grrrrr!!!
WOW.. a tad unfair on the residents who put up with the constant noise, vibration and disruption that the issues apparently caused. There is a mental health issue with anyone subjected to noise 24/7 due to the lack of sleep or ability to simply relax. Perhaps, before attacking victims of disruption, you might consider just how you would cope in these circumstances, especially if you had enjoyed years of silence with good quality sound proofing only to suffer a new and irritating intrusion every single day!
Mental health is very important, and so is maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and using an unopened facility to justify causing issues with locals would seem to be a dangerous precedent. Perhaps those complainants have lost a loved one, lost a job or business or suffered abuse, do their feelings not matter?
Why live in the busiest part if you don’t like noise?
When you suffer mental health due to lack of services where will you go??