DIGNITARIES attended the cutting of the first turf of grass as work officially began on the new £7.3M health connections Phoenix Centre.

The event was attended by communities minister Baroness Kay Andrews, as well as Heywood MP Jim Dobbin, John Pierce, chief executive of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust (PCT), Heywood councillors and New Heart for Heywood officers.

The Phoenix Centre, named by the public to reflect that the building is rising from the site of the old Heywood Grammar School and the phoenix emblem that was the centrepiece of the school's badge, will provide primary and non-acute services on Pine Street.

Baroness Andrews said: "I have been hearing wonderful things about what you are doing in Heywood.

"Phoenix is the right title for the centre because when we talk about reviving and investing in the community, we talk about bringing it back to life.

"We have to make it a priority for people to live longer and that’s what this is all about. The whole project makes me really proud."

Mr Pierce said: "This is a momentous occasion. We have been working on this for a very long time."

Mr Dobbin MP said: "This is a special project for the people of Heywood.

"There is no hospital in my constituency and people here really have to travel and the transport system is really very poor.

"This building is going right in the centre of town and surrounded by community facilities.

"It’s all about supporting and helping the community. It’s a really good day for us, a proud day and a sign to the local community that things are happening."

The Government-backed New Heart for Heywood is contributing £3.5M towards the centre, which will be completed late next year.

Chair Susan Coates said: "This centre will provide the best facilities and I am sure it will be the envy of the other towns in the borough if not the North West.

"It is not an exclusive building for people from one part of the town it is an inclusive building for everyone from Heywood."