WORK on a long-awaited new medical centre for Bewdley is set to get underway imminently, it has been announced.

Wyre Forest District Council confirmed that the construction of the new Bewdley Medical Centre, in Dog Lane, during the next few days.

The new practice will be a two-storey building which will house a pharmacy, consulting rooms, child facilities and it will be kitted out in state-of-the-art technology. It will also have a 49-space public car park.

The building of the new facility is expected to take around 12 months to complete. Practice bosses have hailed the development as a boost for residents in the town.

During the work, the council has confirmed that upper section part of the existing Dog Lane car park will close from Friday (May 29).

Additional car parking on the right hand side of the Dog Lane car park will be provided as an alternative while drivers are being re-directed to Gardners Meadow on the riverside.

Also, to accommodate the new Medical Centre the recycling banks currently located on Dog Lane car park will be removed and relocated elsewhere in the town.

The ambitious plans for the new practice, which will be located less than 100 metres from the existing surgery on Load Street, were drawn up and submitted to the council towards the end of 2012.

Concerns were originally raised by people in the town about the design of the building and the loss of spaces from Dog Lane car park.

But bosses revised the plans and said there will be 21 more parking spaces in the town than are currently available.

Bewdley Town Council approved the scheme in January 2014 before Wyre Forest District Council planners gave it the thumbs up a month later.

Prior to the plans being drawn up, the practice held public meetings and consulted with residents to discuss the proposed development.

Dr Matt Davis, GP and practice partner, said they have received “strong public backing for the scheme”.

He said: “People in Bewdley and the surrounding villages know how much a new medical centre will mean for the town.

“The development will deliver first class medical facilities our patients deserve and importantly, a medical centre which can cope with Bewdley’s growing population.”

Councillor Marcus Hart, leader of the Wyre Forest District Council, said: “Bewdley residents will soon be benefiting from a new Medical Centre and whilst building work is underway, residents and visitors will be directed to alternative parking within the town.

“We would like to thank everyone for their co-operation whilst building work is underway and to be aware of the new parking arrangements.”

If anyone has any enquiries regarding parking, they should contact Wyre Forest District Council on 01562 732528 or email operationalservices@wyreforestdc.gov.uk