A CEREMONY has taken place to signal the official start of construction of Blackburn’s new £21million health centre.

Health chiefs yesterday cut the turf at the site near Alma Street off Barbara Castle Way as building work began.

The new facility, due to be completed in September 2011, will replace the Montague Health Centre.

Funding has been found through private finance with a deal to lease the building back. The controversial scheme means that the health centre is being built for £21million but will cost taxpayers more than £50million in re-payments.

The East Lancashire Building Partnership/Eric Wright Group will build the centre and lease it back to NHS Blackburn with Darwen until all the repayments are made. Yesterday, NHS Blackburn with Darwen chief executive Judith Griffin and chairman Nick Kennedy cut the first sod.

Chief Executive of the Trust Judith Griffin said: “We are absolutely thrilled that work is beginning on the new health centre. It’s a really exciting project that will offer better services in a modern setting to the people in the Borough in a central location. “ Coun Mike Lee, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “The centre will be a major asset to people with a wide range of health and social care and is yet another step towards the regeneration of Blackburn town centre.

“It's in a prime and easily reached location in the town centre, next to the college, and will reduce the need for people to travel to the Royal Blackburn Hospital. It will also boost town centre footfall. "