KNUTSFORD’S health and wellbeing centre is one step closer to becoming a reality after a bid for funding passed the first stage.

George Osborne MP recently met with Knutsford GPs, patient groups and NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group to discuss the progress of their bid for a new health and wellbeing centre, which is earmarked for the current Knutsford Community Hospital site in Bexton Road.

The original bid was submitted to the national NHS England Estates and Technology Transformation Fund (ETTF) in June 2016 by the CCG, and was accepted in November 2016.

But town councillor Andrew Malloy, who sits on the health and social care working group, said that progress is ‘worryingly’ slow and that the bid is not yet guaranteed to be accepted.

“We had a meeting early last year, everything was really exciting,” he said. “But we are now in 2017 and things still seem to be very slow, and worryingly - we have gone through to the next phase but we are in a pot with lots of other health projects around the country.

“We are told that we have got good prospects but of course, who knows what could happen as a result of this.”

The CCG has also confirmed that the community hospital in Bexton Road will be used as the base for the new site if funding is granted.

Cllr Malloy added: “It seems to make the most sense to base it where it is already based. Any other site would involve purchase which would be really expensive.

“The CCG own it and they won’t have any transfer of ownership.”

The bid submitted in June for the proposed centre was on behalf of the three Knutsford GP Practices, Annandale Medical Centre in Mobberley Road, Manchester Road Medical Centre and Toft Road Surgery.

Following the meeting at Jubilee Hall on Monday, George Osborne has pledged to continue his support for the centre.

Speaking about the meeting, he said: ““We discussed the progress of their bid for a new health and wellbeing Centre in Knutsford. The GPs are now fully supportive of the project and I am doing everything I can to make this happen and provide better healthcare facilities for the people of Knutsford.”

The CCG, which has now officially confirmed the centre’s proposed location to the Guardian, will continue to meet to discuss plans moving forward.

Jerry Hawker, chief officer of NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG, said: “The CCG is currently in dialogue with NHS England to establish what further information and action is required in preparation for the next phase.”