Firm to deliver new GP base for north Shropshire village
The owners of a Shropshire haulage giant have unveiled plans to create a doctors' surgery in a village where the family has its roots.
The Grocott family, owners of Whitchurch-based storage and distribution firm Grocontinental, has offered to buy land and build a surgery and parking area on Whitchurch Road in Prees through its new family trust.
The surgery would replace the one in the home of Dr Guy Carter, who is due to retire in the next few weeks.
The Grocott family said plans were at a very early stage and a planning application had not yet been submitted to Shropshire Council.
The size and scale of the new surgery and how much it will cost is not yet known.
A statement from the family said: "The Grocott Family Trust is working with Wem and Prees Medical practice to look at the possibility of providing a new doctors' surgery for Prees village.
"The community of Prees is very important to our family as it is where our roots lie and this would be a fitting inaugural project for our newly formed family trust."
Marston Dufty, chairman of Prees Parish Council, said: "The parish council has pledged support for this project.
"Clearly there is a need for a new surgery in the village. The current doctor is due to retire and the surgery is in his home.
"The doctors' surgery and dispensary is a vital community asset."
Daryl Seivewright, Shropshire County PCT's primary care estates manager, said: "We are aware that the practice is considering developing a new surgery.
"The next steps would be for the practice to provide detailed plans."
