Residents in Ellesmere came a step closer to the end of a 10-year wait for improved medical facilities today after a major cash boost understood to be worth about £400,000 was approved by leading councillors.

Members of North Shropshire District Council’s cabinet have backed a plan to snap up land for a medical centre at the wharf development in the town centre.

It will replace an existing medical practice in Trimpley Street but no date for starting work has been fixed.

Leading councillors were today staying tight-lipped about the exact cost of the land but Rian Huxley, NSDC spokeswoman, confirmed the deal was worth “several hundred thousand pounds”.

Money for the land was raised by the sale of council houses. NSDC chiefs had to apply to the Shropshire Council Implementation Executive for its seal of approval.

Council chiefs say the land will remain in council ownership and therefore be safeguarded for use as a medical centre.

Councillor David Minnery, leader of North Shropshire District Council, said today: “The council is hopeful that the Primary Care Trust will include this site in the next phase of their capital spend.”

Ed Manning, practice manager at Ellesmere Medical Centre, said: “I am very pleased and securing the right site is a significant landmark in our tenth year of trying to get a new facility for Ellesmere.”