CONTROVERSIAL plans to relocate GP surgeries in Malvern have been put on hold after two new possible sites were suggested.

South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust had proposed moving Malvern Health Centre and Court Road surgery to a site in Townsend Way.

However, the plans met with huge opposition from residents when they went out to public consultation.

Families were particularly concerned about the lack of transport links to the site.

They also feared the plans would leave the Barnards Green area of Malvern without a surgery.

Two further sites have now been identified and need further investigation.

The depot site, in Pickersleigh Road, is owned by Malvern Hills District Council, and is just over one mile from Malvern Health Centre and half-a-mile from Court Road surgery, and the BMX site in North End Lane is around one mile from both the current sites.

At a meeting of the PCT at County Hall, Worcester, yesterday Gillian Goodlad, the trust's director of modernisation, asked members to defer the decision on relocation.

"We are asking for time for the officers to do further work on those sites," she said.

The trust is also working with Worcestershire County Council on the issue on public transport to the proposed sites and a report on a recent transport survey will also be made.

The final recommendation on the future of both surgeries will go before the trust at its next meeting at County Hall, on Wednesday, June 4, at 9.30am.