BUILDING work on a brand new £5 million health centre in Cinderford officially got underway on Monday with a turf cutting ceremony which marked the start of the construction.

The purpose-built new facility will be built on Valley Road, replacing the town’s existing health centre, which houses both Dockham Road Surgery and Forest Health Care.

The turf was cut on the site at a small gathering with representatives from the two practices, NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, specialist development company Assura and construction company Speller Metcalfe.

The new building will take around a year to complete, and will be built to modern, environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art specifications which include 20 multi-purpose consulting rooms, nurse treatment areas and first-rate facilities for reception and administration staff, making it a great environment for both patients and staff.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S FORESTER