Fire station rebuild bid in medical centre plan

Bewdley fire station will be knocked down and rebuilt as part of huge redevelopment plans to create a new medical centre, it has been revealed.

Multi-million pound proposals to breathe new life into Bewdley with new homes and shops have been unveiled. However the new development will occupy land currently occupied by Bewdley's current fire station in Dog Lane.

Developers have agreed to provide a new fire station - at no cost to Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

Talks are ongoing between developers Matrix and planning officers at Wyre Forest District Council with proposals to be submitted in a few months. Any redevelopment will involve a major relaunch of the town and concentrate new buildings around the existing Load Street car park area.

These would include a new medical centre and doctors' surgery, expected to cost at least £2million.

Bosses at Bewdley Medical Centre want to expand their centre to bring it up to modern-day standards. The building is to be raised on stilts because of the flood plain, say officials.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Alec Mackie said: "These plans are in the pipeline but I'm not sure when work is due to start."