TWO doctors' surgeries have voiced deep concerns over plans for a new medical centre in Redditch town centre which may make it harder for the vulnerable to get medical help.

The surgeries say if plans go ahead, they will drastically affect patients' ability to park in the area.

The proposed new centre will integrate three existing surgeries - Hillview, St Stephen's and The Bridge - into one larger medical centre, demolishing car park 7 in the town centre.

But two other surgeries in the area, the Dow in William Street and Elgar House in Church Road, use car park 7 for their patients.

Dr Gillian Cooper, from Elgar House, said: "When you put together the number of patients we have and the number the Dow have, there are 24,000 between us - and the new centre will have another 24,000 of its own.

"It's really worrying for us because some will be able to park and some won't.

"If you have disabled people and mums and children, they have to be able to park."

Pauline Waddy, practice manager at the Dow, said: "At the moment, it's chaos in the area anyway.

"When car park 7 was closed some time last year for about a month, it was gridlocked here."

Both surgeries are now running petitions for patients who wish to object to the proposals and they have both written to the council to try to ensure parking is taken into consideration for the scheme.

Pauline Waddy voiced another concern, saying: "When we looked at the plans, they didn't even mention Elgar House, it was just listed as a bus station.

"I cannot believe the council has considered the patient population."

The plans proposed by Abstract Integrated Healthcare Ltd are being considered by the council and the chance for members of the public to raise concerns ended last week.

A council spokesman said: "Information submitted in support of the application indicates that it's envisaged the parking area will be used solely by visitors to the centre.

"However, it goes on to say further work is required to establish the exact parking requirements for the building and the effect this may or may not have on the wider parking strategy for the area.

"It's not clear what they mean by further work' and this is one aspect we will be seeking clarification on during the processing of the application."