'No discount' given to UHD for Wessex Fields, says Vikki Slade

BCP’s leader hit back after what she claimed were “allegations on social media” that she blocked the sale of Wessex Fields to Nuffield Health during her first tenure as the council leader. 

At a full council meeting, councillors finally voted to agree to sell Wessex Fields – behind Royal Bournemouth Hospital – to UHD. 

The sale means the land will not be sold on the open market, meaning potential buyers can no longer come forward with a bid. 

Council leader Vikki Slade (Image: Freelance)

But, as already reported, Cllr Slade said earlier in April nobody has made a counter offer for the former arable land. 

Cllr Slade said on social media there have been people suggesting that by allegedly blocking the sale to Nuffield Health, it has led them to applying to controversially build a hospital at Highmoor Farm. 

She said: “The reality is far more mundane; the way local authorities work does not always align with what the commercial sector desires, much to the frustration of the public and councillors. 

“We move at a pace that enabled vital dialogue, democracy, appraisal and transparency at every stage and we are beholden to public scrutiny and political process. 

“Because of this, it seems we just took too long to reach a decision for Nuffield Health’s liking.

“To reiterate, I did not refuse to sell the land at Wessex Field to Nuffield Health during the time of my previous leadership of BCP Council. 

“In fact, the Unity Alliance approved the formalising of market interest through the soft market testing work. For their own reasons, Nuffield Health chose to seek alternative sites at the time.”

RBH is next to Wessex Fields

She added the decisions all came around during the first year of the Covid pandemic which “created an uncertain economic climate”. 

Because of commercial reasons, the final price has not been made public but some councillors on the cross-party asset disposal group were of the mindset the land could be sold for a higher price on an open market. 

It’s expected UHD will use the land for a science park, a medic school and key-worker housing on the site (which is not dependent on public grant). 

Cabinet member for finance Mike Cox said the sale to UHD is a “win-win-win for the council, residents and the hospital”. 

He said: “It frankly beggar’s belief that some people still want to threaten this opportunity by procrastinating even further than this has already occurred by dragging up some unfounded allegations. 

“Nobody in their right mind can say that this proposal has not been thoroughly scrutinised.  

“We are confident that this administration has been completely transparent which stands in stark contrast to the previous Conservative administration.” 

Bournemouth Borough Council bought the land for £2.25million in 2017 with plans for it to be an “employment-led” science and technology park.  

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Trust has started building a link road from the slip road off the A338 southbound to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site for staff and ambulances only.