HEALTH chiefs have revealed that two new health centres planned for Accrington could be built at the same time.

The east Accrington centre, on the Broughton Crangrove Mill site, in Paradise Street, was due to be built first, with work starting in April or May.

Work on the west Accrington centre, on a site bounded by Blackburn Road, Lonsdale Street, Lower Antley Street and Leyland Street, was then due to start the following year.

But Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust said both projects are progressing well and could well be built in parallel.

Assistant chief executive, David Rogers, said: "It is highly possible, subject to planning approval and site acquisition, that the two health centres can be built in parallel.

"The PCTs are in the process of being reformed and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley very much sees these two buildings as part of its legacy to Accrington.

"We want to get going on both before the dissolution of the PCT."

The news was welcomed by Hyndburn Council and local residents. Council leader, Peter Britcliffe, said: "We thought we were going to get one and wait two years for the next one, so this it is tremendous news for the town that they are going to be developed simultaneously.

"This is an investment of millions of pounds into the town centre, which will secure GP services well into the future."

Joe Treacey, chairman of West Accrington Residents' Association, said the health centre would be a catalyst for further regeneration under the borough's Phoenix Project scheme.

He said: "It is brilliant news. The problem we have had in west Accrington is that it has taken a long time to secure the site completely we have been waiting for almost 10 years."