Walsall health centre plan go-ahead

Plans to create a multi-million pound medical centre, library and children's centre in a Walsall village will press ahead despite the strategic health authority not yet pledging cash to the project.

Walsall Council's cabinet last night gave the go-ahead for the ambitious plans for Pelsall.

The cabinet decided to approve the plans, despite NHS Walsall not yet receiving a formal endorsement from the strategic health authority to commit £3million required to build the facility.

If NHS Walsall is unable to find the funding then the scheme will develop in two phases.

The first phase would be to construct the children's centre and library, which must be completed before March 2011 as funding must be fully drawn by that date.

It follows a three-year campaign to get such a centre in the village, which will be situated on the existing library site on High Street.

Speaking at the meeting last night Councillor Barry Sanders, portfolio holder for leisure and culture said: "This will be a fantastic facility for the people of Pelsall.

"It really is wonderful news."

Cabinet member councillor Gary Perry, who is also a ward councillor for Pelsall added: "This has been the culmination of three years of hard work to get where we are today."