By Vicki Weller
CONSTRUCTION work is set to begin on the new health care centre which will create around 125 jobs in Newbridge.
The project is part of a wider venture in conjunction with Kildare VEC, with new sports facilities and a further education centre being provided on the same site.
The location is at Station Road, on land to the rear of St Conleth’s Community College and the health centre proposal will provide Newbridge with a facility similar to the Vista centre in Naas, offering a range of medical services both in and out of hours. This will include a pharmacy which will be open until midnight each night.
The planning application was lodged by Co Kildare VEC and Doctor Maurice Cox and the work will include the demolition of existing changing facilities; construction of a part single/ part two-storey sports facility to the rear of the site; construction of a part two/ part three-storey primary health care facility and further education centre fronting onto Station Road, along with carparking provisions, landscaping and other works.
The joint venture scheme will in effect provide the existing St Conleth’s Community College with a new sports hall, while the proposed education centre will accommodate the VEC’s adult education programme.
Planning permission was granted in September of last year and VEC Chairman Cllr Paddy Kennedy confirmed in the past week that work is due to begin shortly.
“I don’t have an exact start date as yet but I understand it will be very shortly,” he said, adding that he was delighted to see the project moving ahead.
“I am really looking forward to Newbridge having a facility of this nature and I believe it will be a huge benefit to the town,” Cllr Kennedy said.