12,000 to have new surgery

steth.jpgTwo Wolverhampton doctor’s surgeries serving 12,000 patients are set to close their doors before being merged at a new multi-million pound complex.

Plans have been put forward by Dr Walton & Partners to close their current surgeries in Castlecroft Road and Tettenhall Road and move to a new state-of-the-art facility in Castlecroft.

The centre, including designated treatment rooms for minor surgery, would be built on vacant open land at the junction of Castlecroft Avenue and Windmill Lane, and include a large car park.

However, many patients will have to travel further for GP care.

Bosses behind the scheme have vowed to carry out improvements to other open spaces in the area to compensate for the land which would be swallowed up by the development.

New play facilities would be created at Twentyman Field, between Castlecroft Road, Aldwyck Drive and Castlecroft Rugby stadium as well as on Smestow School playing fields.

And a child’s play area at the corner of Castlecroft Avenue and Ashenden Rise would also be improved.

Residents living nearby the planned complex said they welcome the development, but voiced concerns it would lead to traffic congestion on the estate.

One resident, who refused to be named, said: “I am worried that there will be more cars parking in the road. It’s already busy when the Windmill Centre is used and sometimes I have difficulty parking outside my house because there are so many cars. Leaflets with details of the plans have been posted to people living nearby the proposed development.

Residents are now being asked to fill in a form voicing their opinions and send it back to bosses behind the scheme by next Monday.

Tettenhall Regis councillor Jonathan Yardley said: “I have only heard positive comments. The old surgeries are out of date, patients have difficulty with stairs and parking is a problem.”

By Victoria Nash

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