Following investigations into locations for the new centre, plans are now being drawn up, which would include a new GP practice and some health services being relocated from Royal Oldham to the centre.
Local Lib Dem councillor Helen Bishop said: “We have been working hard to deliver a new health centre, and this is a real step forward. It is critical that we make services accessible for people in the local community, and a new health centre is the way to achieve this.
“We’ve seen new centres delivered over the years elsewhere in the borough, and Saddleworth was in danger of being left behind. We are not prepared to accept that, and this is a key part of us delivering on that promise.”
Officers confirmed that the current assessment was that the most viable site for the new centre was a combined project at the current leisure centre, improving both the leisure and health provision together. However, following pressure from the Liberal Democrats, they promised to keep reviewing other sites to keep them in reserve – particularly the former Saddleworth School site.
Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani added: “One of the most important steps now is to ensure that this site will have the transport access that it needs. That’s why we made sure that Transport for Greater Manchester were involved in the development from the start. Any new centre will only work if there is sufficient parking and bus services to the door.
“This is about giving people access to local healthcare. That means putting the services where people want them, and making it easy for them to get there.”
