A SURVEY has revealed that villagers at Milverton oppose their former doctors’ surgery being converted into a house.

Eighty-five people out of 105 who replied to the survey want the premises in Creech Orchard to be retained for community use.

A change of use application for the 33-year-old building to be lived in has been lodged with Taunton Deane Borough Council.

It currently has a restrictive covenant meaning it could only be used for community purposes.

Owned by the former GP practice partners, it is on the market at £125,000, 13 months after it closed and patients were transferred to Lister House Surgery, in Wiveliscombe.

Milverton Parish Council is opposing the application, saying it would be a loss of a community facility; Milverton is not struggling to meet housing targets; it is unsuitable as a house as it is in the middle of a car park and has no outside space.

A statement adds: “It should also be noted that the property is surrounded on three sides by bungalows which enjoy pedestrian and vehicular access close to the building meaning that privacy will be almost impossible to achieve.

“There is also a potential hazard from vehicle movements to and from these neighbouring properties.”

The survey identified a range of potential uses such as archive stage, youth provision, independent health practitioners, community hub or play group.

The former GP partners resigned due to problems recruiting doctors. It was then run by Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust until February last year when the building became redundant.