Horwich Health Hub's car park looks likely to cost the council around £1m in an increase of around 15 per cent on previously.

The health hub is to be the home to two GP surgeries and a number of other services after the completion of the construction recently.

The developer is United Healthcare Developments Ltd (UHDL) but, as a result of an agreement with the council, it is the local authority which is responsible for some of the parking spaces to be used by Horwich Health Hub as well as its next-door neighbour Horwich Leisure Centre.

The local authority agreed to a budget of around £850,000 for these parking spaces.

However the car park looks likely to cost the council around £1m in an increase of around 15 per cent as the access road between Horwich Health Hub and Horwich Leisure Centre is not fit for purpose.

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A report said: "Following site surveys it was determined that the use of the access road by numerous HGVs accessing the health centre on a regular basis would degrade the access road over a period of time.

"The works are required to the road so it is suitable for sustained use by heavier loads."

(Image: Newsquest)

Akhtar Zaman, the cabinet member for regeneration, is anticipated to approve the additional allocation at a meeting on September 10.

David Grant, the leader of Horwich and Blackrod First, said he has some questions for the cabinet member at the meeting next week.

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Cllr Grant said: "I have questions over how a car park is costing upwards of nearly £1m because this is what it is getting towards."

The health hub is to be the home of two GP surgeries, Market Surgery and Pike View, and a number of other services by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The GP surgeries were set to start at the site in the last two weeks whereas the other services were set to start at the site this week.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.