THE long-awaited, much-delayed and highly expensive Ongar War Memorial Medical Centre will finally open in November, according to the NHS.
The multimillion-pound building will, by the time it opens, have sat empty for nearly 19 months.
During this time, figures obtained by the Gazette show that it will have cost the taxpayer more than £180,000.
Many residents in Ongar take the stance that they will "believe when they see it" – and it is not only the waste of money that has angered them.
Standing on the site of the community built Ongar War Memorial Hospital, some see the demolition of the historic building as unforgivable.
Vocal Fyfield resident of nine years Henry Hart told the Gazette: "I still don't believe it will open.
"We have been told this many times before and what has happened? Nothing.
"They often hide behind the excuse of negotiations being ongoing but it has been this way for too long."
The 78-year-old, who lives in Dacres Gate, added: "The War Memorial Hospital should never have been demolished.
"They had no right to tear down that building. I have every respect for the doctors at the Ongar Medical Centre in Bansons Lane, but the issues with the empty building stretch further than the NHS.
"Someone should be held accountable for the colossal failure that the medical centre has been.
"They should never have built the place before agreeing a tenant. They should have agreed a tenant long before they knocked down the old hospital.
"The NHS has never been open about what is going on.
"They fob us off with statements from 'spokesmen' and never tell the full truth."
A spokesman for NHS England said: "NHS England and its partners are very concerned that the Ongar War Memorial Medical Centre is not yet occupied and open to the public.
"We have been working closely with one of the parties that will occupy the building to resolve a complex legal issue that has delayed all other NHS services from moving into the centre to date.
"We are pleased to report that we have now identified a way forward to resolve the problem and are optimistic that services will be able to move into this excellent building by November this year for the benefit of the whole local population.
"Detailed planning has already begun to facilitate the move by the local GPs and community services into this high quality, modern healthcare facility.
"This work will be led by NHS Property services, together with NHS England Essex Area Team and the West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group.
"The work is now to complete a revised detailed project plan, which is a very high priority, to make up for lost time, and will be monitored closely on a weekly basis until occupation is complete."
An NHS England spokeswoman also claimed: "With respect to November we are very confident that the building will be occupied by the practices and community services and don't foresee any alternatives being necessary."
They also added that everything was agreed with the prospective tenants and the next four months would only involve the completion of paperwork.
Dr Hugh Taylor, GP principle of the Bansons Lane practice, said: "We have had a very productive meeting last Thursday in which all parties expressed great willingness to get the whole thing sorted in as short time frame as possible."
Fay Hewett, an Ongar resident and owner of Balloonatics in the High Street, said: "The delays are disgraceful and I really hope that they do move in in November.
"I know everyone is very upset and angry at the entire farce. Sooner than November is what is really needed."
