Doctor's surgery which is 'bursting at the seams' plans to open new medical centre
A doctor’s surgery which is ‘bursting at the seams’ has launched ambitious plans to build a health centre.
St Pauls Surgery, based in Smethwick, is in talks with Sandwell Council about taking over a vacant plot of land on St Paul's Road and Chatwin Street .
The plans have been drawn up as the surgery is struggling to cope with an increasing influx of patients.
Warley MP John Spellar said: “They are bursting at the seams. There is a big population increase going on in the Smethwick area which you can see in the house prices and lots of new developments taking place. They want to move a bit further down the road.
“These plans are very much supported by the patient forums down there. I support this too.
“This will allow them to deal with an increased workload but also provide services which people can only access from hospital.”
Under the plans, the surgery would relocate from its current premises on St Paul’s Road just down the street.
If the plans are approved, Sandwell Council would sell off the land by ‘disposing of its freehold’.
Councillor Paul Moore, Sandwell's cabinet for regeneration and economic investment, said: "If approved, this move will bring plans for a new health centre one step closer.
"There is very clearly a need for a new medical facility in this part of Smethwick.
"Such a development would enhance the health provision in this part of the borough and bring back into economic use a council-owned site which is currently vacant and unused."
A report to Sandwell Council said: "The proposed development of the site will bring it back into beneficial use providing, at the same time, local people with employment opportunities and improving the health and wellbeing of residents by having access to modern medical facilities.
"The purpose of this report is to seek authority to dispose of the freehold interest in the site off St Paul’s Road and Chatwin Street Smethwick for development with health care facilities and, if appropriate, an element of residential use."
Sandwell Council leader Steve Eling said: "They are a bit restricted there at the moment. They want to build a larger premises and better doctor's surgery."
The report will be discussed at Sandwell Council's Land and Asset Management Committee tomorrow.
