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A CONSULTATION will take place before a final decision is made on the location of the new health centre in Kilsyth.

Concerns were raised at Kilsyth Community Council meeting, which was held on Wednesday, June 20, over finding a suitable site for the new 2,100 square metre facility.

NHS Lanarkshire is hoping to build three new health centres in the county including one in East Kilbride and another in Wishaw.

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The health board had an initial funding bid agreed in January, but NHS Lanarkshire has a few more steps to go through in this process which they hope to complete by next summer before the project can go-ahead.

Kilsyth councillor Jean Jones, however, voiced concern over where the health centre would be based after a site on Fisher Avenue was suggested. She said: “A proper local consultation is needed before a decision is made on the site of the new health centre.

“The community council is full of people who have the interests of Kilsyth at heart but there is a lot of people who will use the health centre on a regular basis and they need to be consulted also.”

Fellow Labour councillor Heather McVey added: “We welcome this investment for a new health centre. I think it is important people in the area get their say in where it goes.

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“We want a state-of-the-art health centre but we also want it to be accessible.”

NHS Lanarkshire, however, confirmed that they are still in the early stages of the process and intend to consult interested parties before a final decision is made on the health centre.

SNP councillor Alan Stevenson also welcomes plans for a consultation and explained a meeting will be held between the health board and the ward councillors to discuss this further.

A spokesperson for NHS Lanarkshire said: “We have had initial consultation with North Lanarkshire Council to identify possible sites. However, there is considerable planning, consultation and site investigation work still to be carried out before we would be in a position to finalise the development.

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“There will be a wide ranging engagement process with the people of Kilsyth, the community council and community forum and we are currently arranging a meeting with local councillors to update them on the development process.

“Services to be located in the new centre would include those already provided at the existing Kilsyth Health Centre along with additional services such as podiatry nail surgery and biomechanics, physiotherapy, a range of community mental health services, a range of community clinics and a general dental practice.

“If we are given approval to proceed, we hope to complete the new health centre in autumn 2015.”

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