Setback for Church Stretton health centre plans

A project to create a new health centre in Church Stretton has suffered a setback after a funding bid for £445,000 was unsuccessful.

But organisers behind plans to convert the former mental health clinic in Easthope Road today said they would fight on.

They hoped to secure cash from the Social Enterprise Investment Fund.

Trustees of Church Stretton's Mayfair Community Centre had put together the bid in order to buy and refurbish the building.

A further £350,000 would then have been needed.

Church Stretton mayor, Councillor Bob Welch, previously warned the project may be killed off if the funding bid was unsuccessful.

But today he said: "We have had news on the health and wellbeing centre and it's not good but we all remain committed to finding the necessary funding.

"We will be pursuing the bid from the Market Towns Revitalisation Programme for a contribution towards the costs of doing this work.

"We remain optimistic that by hook or by crook we will secure the necessary funding in the next couple of years."

Nicola McPherson, development manager at the Mayfair Community Centre, said support had already been found for investment in the project and they would battle on to complete the development.