Details have emerged that have linked plans for the new city health hub at the St Clare’s PS location. Millions of pounds are due to be pumped into the high-tec Community Treatment Centre (CTC) service on High Street after the closure of the 150 year old school at its current site. A meeting involving Newry and Mourne District Council (NMDC) and GPs from the Newry Health Village on Monaghan Street is set to take place this week. Plans for alternative entrances at the CTC connect the blue prints to the Poor Clare’s building. Designs for the CTC will be on the table with a final decision expected on its lay out in the coming weeks. The tendering process for a building contractor has been open and it is expected to follow a speedy time line to target a completion date of early 2014. A building partnership has now been identified for the contract. NMDC director of administration Eddy Curtis revealed the position of the CTC work after a recent staff and policy/ equality committee meeting at the council. “After an agreed structure of the proposed CTC has been made there will be a meeting of all interested parties to update the process,” said Mr Curtis. “The key to the health initiative relies on third party development which will finance the project and lease it back to GPs in line with Transforming Your Care which will cut hospital budgets by 5 per cent. St Clare’s Primary School will join the Abbey PS as a new co-ed school built at the former Christian Brothers monastery site on Courtenay Hill. The contract tender for the CTC has now been issued. Council staff have assisted a local partnership to tender for the CTC. It was also noted that the access required from the Three Ways Community Association has been included in the bid as per the request of the council,” he added. The Three Ways Community Centre is based further up High Street towards the back of the St Clare’s building providing access to the new CTC.
Newry Reporter
5th June 2013
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