Plans move forward for long-awaited health centre in Colne (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Plans move forward for long-awaited health centre in Colne

2:34pm Monday 10th September 2012 in News By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

A LONG-AWAITED new health centre for Colne has moved a step closer.

Bosses at NHS East Lancashire have submitted plans to demolish the former KwikSave supermarket, in Craddock Road, and an application for the new health centre is due “imminently”.

NHS East Lancashire has owned the site since 2008 but plans to build a multi-million pound new health centre had hit several stumbling blocks along the way.

The plans were dropped in September 2010 because of funding concerns, but NHS chiefs have now confirmed that the demolition of the old supermarket is the first phase in building the facility.

A spokesman for NHS East Lancashire said there were two reasons for the demolition.

“The unoccupied building is an ongoing liability and NHS East Lancashire would have continued to commit resources to ensure it remains safe and isn’t too unsightly.

“Demolition is part of a sensible site management strategy for this location. He said the second reason for demolition was to prepare the way for building a new health centre in Colne.

“NHS East Lancashire is currently finalising its plans for a new health centre and intends to submit a planning application for the new development imminently.

“When the details have been finalised we will be in a position to release further information supported by a series of public engagement events.”

LibDem councillor Tony Greaves, who has campaigned for the health centre, said: “This is brilliant news for the people of Colne. It is important that this gets done before projects like it are handed over to the new national body, who could potentially look at the whole thing again.

“We have worked closely with the local PCT to try to get this health centre up and running and it is brilliant news that we have moved closer.”