CONTROVERSIAL plans to move a health centre will go under the spotlight for the next month as a public feasibility study gets under way.

The four-week public consultation will look at the feasibility of relocating Nelson Health Centre to Yarnspinners Wharf, Carr Road.

Pendle Primary Care Group -- now part of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust -- identified the site as a suitable location and a draft planning brief has been prepared.

The people of the town will now be able to make their views known and any comments received during the consultation exercise will be considered, along with the draft brief by members of Pendle Council's executive committee on November 21.

The preferred option by the primary care trust would be to re-use the existing Grade 2 listed building, in Carr Road, with a two-storey extension to the side linked by a glass corridor.

Funding has been agreed by LIFT (Local Investment Finance Trust) but the planning brief must be in place by November 22 to comply with the funding criteria.

The Yarnspinners Wharf is a redundant warehouse beside the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

Listed building consent was granted in 1996 to use it as a tourist attraction but has since lapsed.

Councillor Azhar Ali, leader of Pendle Council, said: "A lot of people in Nelson think it is the council that is moving the health centre from where it is. We have tried to make it clear that we are not the PCT and don't make these decisions.

"Under the LIFT programme one of the biggest concerns seems to be parking and access."

Plans for the development state there would be a traffic calming and 20mph scheme to cover Clayton Street, Albion Street and Wellington Street and a new pedestrian access to provide a link to Morrisons car park.

The current health centre has been described as "bursting at the seams" by Dr Ellis Friedman, director of public health for the PCT, and health centre GPs and the Primary Care Trust (PCT) have agreed a 'do nothing' option is unacceptable.