PLANS for a new community medical centre for Upton-upon-Severn have received the support of the town council.

Despite worries about the choice of site and possible traffic problems, members voted by nine votes to two in favour of the revised scheme for an integrated primary healthcare centre at Tunnel Hill.

The planning application, set to be determined by Malvern Hills District Council in June, is for a £2m centre housing GPs, optician, dentist, chiropodist, physiotherapist, district nurses, health visitors, and speech, language and occupational therapists.

The present Upton GP practice, with seven doctors, serves 10,500 patients from a much extended surgery in School Lane.

All town councillors were in favour of having a new medical centre in Upton, but Simon Wilkinson was opposed to the choice of the greenfield site at Tunnel Hill, which is subject to flooding.

"I would say this development was unacceptable where it has been put," he said.

It would be a significant visual intrusion in the landscape, with an impact on the setting of a listed building, The Mount, he said.

Dismissing the claim that it would be easy to walk to the centre, just 500m from the parish church, he said it would create a significant amount of extra traffic.

Other members were also worried about the traffic, although the plans include provision for widening the road at the entrance.

At the suggestion of deputy mayor Mark Kerrigan, they agreed to ask for a reduction of the speed limit in Tunnel Hill from 40 to 30mph.

Neil Culley pointed out that it was more difficult to get to the surgery's present site, in the congested School Lane.

"This will improve the situation no end, compared to what's there at the moment," he said.

The proposed site and building were acceptable and the plan was sympathetic to its environment. It would blend into the hillside, he said.

It was agreed to ask for more information about the Environment Agency's holding objection to the plan.