Kilbeggan to get state-of-the-art medical centre

Some good news for the Kilbeggan area- Westmeath County Council has granted planning permission for a one-stop medical centre on the Tullamore Road in Kilbeggan. After more than a year of shouldering closures and having borne the side-effects of the bypass, the news will be welcome in a town which is in need of an economic boost.The primary health care centre will be the first of its kind in the Midlands and will 17 consulting rooms, providing everything from GP appointments, to physiotherapy and the centre will also have the capacity for minor surgeries. It is hoped that construction work will begin by the end of 2010. When open it is anticipated that the health centre will provide jobs for up to 50 people which include will HSE medical and administration staff.Since 2009 the HSE has been looking at ways to upgrade health care facilities within communities and the Kilbeggan centre is to become part of that focus.The project is backed by four local men who have initiated the project out of necessity but also a from a desire to give a boost to the Kilbeggan area.Well-known local entrepreneurs Peter Wrafter and Pio Keenan embarked on the project after they were approached by Doctors Jerry O'Flynn Raymond Campbell who saw the need for the centre."This is a good decision by Westmeath County Council and we will make sure that it is delivered," said Pio Keenan. "This project is being led by people who want to see Kilbeggan get a foot up, a lift. Peter has a track record of delivering and will be seeing this through. This is not about some big developer from Dublin or Cork who want to buy land, get it zoned with planning permission and watch the price of it go up. We are committed to this project and the centre will be the first of its kind in the Midlands. In fact there are only about 20 such centres in the whole country. The last big project here in Kilbeggan was led by Peter when he built the Midlands Gateway Business Park five years ago. The park now employs 110 people and continues to be a great success. "The health centre will take pressure of away from the hospitals and at the same time it will bring people back into Kilbeggan."The green light for planning permission was warmly welcomed this week by local Fianna Fail councillor Paul Daly who said that the centre would bring much needed regeneration into the area."Peter has proven that he can deliver with the Midland Gateway Business Park and I am very pleased to hear that planning permission has been granted," he said.As well as primary care the centre will house specialised services such as speech therapy and will contain bookable treatment rooms.In total the centre will be almost 2000 square metres and will facilitate 146 car parking spaces with extra areas for parking bikes.