NHS bosses 'failed to discuss concerns over Wolverhampton eye infirmary repairs'
Health trust leaders disputing demands to carry out major work at Wolverhampton's former eye infirmary site failed to discuss their concerns with council staff, a court has heard.
Planning officer Colin Noakes drafted the enforcement notice which called on The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust to overhaul the Compton Road site last year.
But he claimed the trust did not contact him to discuss a schedule of work or issues with the compliance date despite bringing an appeal against the authority's order.
Ms Alison Ogley, on behalf of the trust, put it to Mr Noakes that it was 'not responsible' to demand the trust undertake the work within less than seven months.
Wolverhampton Council employee Mr Noakes told Dudley Magistrates' Court: "At the time of issuing the notice, I was not sure how long the work was going to take.
"[The timescale was] because of the onset of winter, it was seasonal.
"If the trust wanted to discuss timescales for the work, it should have contacted us. There may have been a power to relax the notice.
"If the trust had contacted us to discuss a timescale, that may have been a possibility."
The two authorities have been locked in a courtroom battle after the council served the trust with the notice, ordering it to sort a raft of issues.
Work could cost the trust more than £2 million despite the possibility buildings on the site may be demolished as part of future redevelopment works, the court heard.
Ms Ogley put it to the witness on Monday: "If these buildings are coming down, it would be a waste of time, costs and effort, wouldn't it, to comply with the steps in the notice?"
Mr Noakes replied: "I don't agree. The site has been vacant since 2007. There have been no planning applications for the site since that date.
"A scheme could take years."
The council served its enforcement notice last February after claiming the trust failed to carry out required repair work.
It has since said not all work was completed by the final September 20 deadline and could now seek prosecution.
But the NHS trust, which is calling for the notice to be ‘quashed’ or amended, lodged an appeal.
The eye infirmary, which opened in 1888, closed when services moved to New Cross Hospital and has stood empty since 2007.
The hearing was adjourned, with District Judge David Webster expected to deliver his judgement next month.
