Chance to give views on £10m health centre plans

RESIDENTS are being urged to attend a public meeting at which plans for a £10 million health centre will be discussed.

A site in Wharf Road has been chosen as the site for the long-awaited Biddulph complex, which could also house the town's library.

NHS North Staffordshire is staging the meeting at Woodhouse Middle School, Woodhouse Lane, on Thursday from 6.30pm.

Organisers want residents to hear about the plans and have their say.

Tony Bruce, chief executive of NHS North Staffordshire, said: "This a terrific development for the people of Biddulph and we are keen to involve as many people as possible."

Moorlands MP Charlotte Atkins said: "This multi-million pound Government investment will make a real difference to people's lives, bringing care closer to home and reducing the need to travel for diagnostic tests and other procedures."

Assistant director for culture and libraries at Staffordshire County Council Janene Cox said: "It is early days and we have yet to look at the implications of sharing a part of the new health centre in detail, but we are hopeful that the development will be a suitable home for a brand new town library."

The new facility is being developed under the Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) scheme by Prima 200 and is scheduled for completion in 2011.