Land will be set aside for a new medical centre as part of the redevelopment of Ellesmere Wharf, even if the facility is not built immediately, it emerged today. North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson and Ellesmere mayor, Ann Hartley, have been locked in talks about the proposed £2 million facility with Shropshire Primary Care Trust and the district council. Today they revealed even if the centre is not built immediately due to funding problems the land will be earmarked for it. The news comes after more than 200 people took to the streets to show their support for a new medical centre to be built as part of the revamp of the former dairy site. Today, Mr Paterson said he and the mayor met last week with the PCT and North Shropshire District Council and they were assured that council officers would recommend land for the health centre be included in plans for the site. Residents were concerned after health chiefs revealed plans at Ellesmere were not as high a priority as health centres planned in Oswestry, Wem and Shrewsbury. Mr Paterson said: “Everything is very positive and the PCT acknowledges that facilities at Trimpley Street are too small, especially with more houses being built and we will go up the list once the houses are built.” District councillors will discuss the plans at a future development control meeting.

Reproduced from the Shropshire Star Online 19/02/2007