DEFIANT councillors are fighting to save an old GP building after NHS bosses announced it could be turned into flats.

Last year the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group approved plans to dispose of the Monkwick Clinic, which is a children’s health centre.

NHS bosses decided the building, owned by NHS Property Services, should be sold to save cash.

Colchester councillor David Harris had called on health bosses to spare the clinic, which had been described as a vital resource providing check-ups for newborn babies.

He since found out there are plans for 14 flats and a retail unit on the site.

He said: “The clinic was built to serve the people of Monkwick and Berechurch decades ago, and I regard it, as many of my neighbours do, as a community asset. Putting such proposals that will make parking worse, in an already overstretched place, will make our area poorer just for a quick buck, rather than for community benefit

“I thought at least the building could be kept for community centre use or indeed to hand over at a reasonable fee commensurate with its current value to Colchester Borough Homes, for making more council housing.”

“At least with Colchester Borough Homes, they would ensure the nearby car park is expanded and modified at the same time as new council homes.

“Additionally the Scout Hall behind the clinic is well used, and with the parking at the rear now being tagged as serving the flats, the viability of the Scout Hall as a community facility is also compromised.”

He has called for urgent meetings with NHS bosses.

It has been known since last year the buildings would go.

Dr Max Hickman, the clinical commissioning group’s clinical vice-chairman, said at the time the NHS “cannot have a cost pressure of having an empty building we are paying the rent on”.

A spokesman for NHS Property Services said: “Our overall goal is always to generate valuable funds for reinvestment in the NHS.

“By selling land the NHS no longer needs we can also help increase efficiency and reduce the operational costs of the estate we oversee.

“This in turn enables healthcare commissioners to reduce their spending on empty property, such as on security, and use the savings to benefit patients.

“In total, NHS Property Services has completed the sale of 295 surplus properties since April 2013, generating a total of £203,300,000 in sales receipts.

“In the financial year 2016/17, NHS Propert Services generated £53.5 million from the disposal of 72 surplus properties.”