New health centre should be built in Dudley town centre, claims councillor

Councillor Dave Tyler argued that a new health centre should be built in Flood Street in the town centre – as opposed to in his ward of Kingswinford, where it has previously been suggested.

At a meeting of Dudley Council's overview and scrutiny management board, Councillor Tyler called for the authority's cabinet to explore the location of a proposed new health centre – where it would "reap the biggest rewards" and help four of the most deprived wards in the country.

Councillor Tyler said: "However, it has been quite forcibly said that the four town centre wards in Dudley are in the 10 per cent of the most deprived in the country.

“So, why not take a health centre to where it could reap the biggest rewards?

“The suggestion to the cabinet is to explore a location, instead of Kingswinford, smack bang in the middle of the town next to the new leisure centre where they can bounce off one another.”

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Tyler said the wards of St Thomas, St James, Netherton, Woodside and St Andrews and the Castle and Priory all intersect in Dudley town centre.

He added: “If you look at the indices of deprivation you will see they are in the top 10 per cent for health in the country.

“My thoughts are, if you have issues with deprivation and health then you don’t take a health centre with all the benefits it can bring and put it somewhere else.

“If there is a need for it, you put it smack in the middle of where it is is needed.

“We should be putting a health centre where it would reap the most benefit and the residents and their families would reap the most benefit.”

The next meeting of Dudley Council’s cabinet is scheduled for January 6, where reports from scrutiny committees will be discussed.