PLANS for a health and wellbeing centre beside the flood-prone River Monnow in Monmouth are still at their early stages, a councillor has been told.

A consultation on the scheme to develop a grassland site off Osbaston Road has been run on behalf of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

It could include facilities such as GP services, treatment rooms and a community pharmacy.

Ward councillor Jane Lucas (Conservative) told a meeting of Monmouthshire Council, residents were “very upset”, having "been denied on opportunity to share their views on the siting” of the centre in the replacement local development plan consultation, which sets out where new housing, employment sites and community facilities should be built.

But Cabinet member Paul Griffiths (Labour, Chepstow Castle/Larkfield ) said: “This is a proposal from the health board for the site of a new primary care centre, in Osbaston, that will be developed within the existing LDP.

"There is no proposal in the replacement LDP and why it has not been a part of the consultation.”

Cllr Griffiths said the planning application, when submitted, would be subject to “all the normal public consultations associated with that”.

Cllr Lucas said there were concerns over flooding, with the site close to the primary school, where the Monnow frequently floods the grounds in winter, and traffic

“Residents are clearly very upset about that and feel a lot more thought and care needs to be given,” she said.

Agents for the proposed centre held a public consultation meeting at Monmouth's Shire Hall in January.

The new site is planned to provide additional clinical accommodation for Castle Gate Medical Practice, the Wye Valley Practice and ABUHB.

An ABUHB spokesman said previously: “A proposal is currently being considered to fund a new building to incorporate not only Dixton Surgery, but also other vital Primary Care Health and Wellbeing services.

"This proposal is still at a very early stage and no decision has yet been made on whether it will go ahead.”