Keys handed over to Phoenix Centre

John Pierce, Chairman, and Trevor Purt, Chief Executive of NHS HMR, Sheila Hill, Steering Group Chairman, Vicki Devonport, NDC Chief Executive, Councillor Linda Robinson, Council Leader Alan Taylor and Peter Forrest, Eric Wright Group Director, with the keys to the new Phoenix Centre.

The keys to Heywood's £7.3 million Phoenix Centre have been handed over and the development should be in public use this autumn.

The centre, at the site of the former Heywood Grammar School, will house health, community and council services.

The facility, off Pine Street, was named after the phoenix emblem on the former school's badge.

Sheila Hill, chairman of the Phoenix Centre steering group, said: "The centre is a real inspiration to the borough, showing how working together is well worth the effort made by all the partners."

John Pierce, chairman of NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, said: "I’ve been involved in public services for over 30 years and I’ve never seen as much true partnership as I have here with the Phoenix Centre, especially with the community. 

"The 21st century development really will bring state-of-the-art health and community facilities for everyone in Heywood to use and we look forward to its highly anticipated opening later this year."

The services to be housed by the centre include community rooms, dental treatments, a children’s library, midwifery clinic and sexual health services.

Council leader, Councillor Alan Taylor, compared the development to a new ‘town hall’ for Heywood and added: "I’m delighted with all the hard work and co-operation that’s gone into making this new facility a reality and bringing both council and health services together in one place for the people of Heywood."

Now construction by the Eric Wright Group has been completed, services will begin to move into the centre. Members of the public will be able to visit from October onwards, with an official opening planned for November.