Plans for new Wednesbury health centre to be approved
Proposals to build a long-awaited health centre in Wednesbury could take a major step forward this week after 10 years in the planning.
Sandwell Council's planning committee have been recommended to approve the scheme to build a new health centre on the site of the former Kingsbury House and Resource Centre, in King Street.
Five three-bedroom houses will also be built alongside the centre, which will be based behind Wednesbury Leisure Centre.
Bosses at Sandwell Council have been keen to deliver a new health centre for the town, but after years of delays there had been fears it would never happen.
If it is given the green light, the existing Spires GP Practice will be moved from its temporary mobile unit in Victoria Street, as well as district nurses and podiatry services run from Mesty Croft Clinic, in Alma Road.
The new proposed health centre would include 13 consulting/treatment rooms, a large reception area, associated offices and 32 parking spaces. The centre would be open between 7.15am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Saturdays.
Jobs will become available once the centre is up and running, with space for 10 full-time staff and 20 part time.
Wednesbury North Councillor Peter Hughes said it was a "fantastic scheme".
He said: "It is something residents and councillors have been wanting for some time, it has taken a while to get off the ground.
"For me personally, my wife and I are patients at Spires GP Practice which will be moving into the new building. It is what has been needed for some time. It will give the staff at Spires something to look forward to and a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
"It is going to be quite a good facility and its location near to the leisure centre is also a good thing. The designs look to be very modern both inside and outside.
"There's also going to be some houses include on the wider site too – in Wednesbury North there is a real demand for housing, like in a lot of places.
"I think it is a fantastic scheme."
The former Kingsbury House and Resource Centre was demolished in 2008 and has been lying empty ever since.
Sandwell Council planning committee will discuss the proposals at their meeting on Wednesday(10).
