A NEW and much-needed health centre for expectant mothers and parents already with children is to be created in Chard.

In something which could be straight out of TV’s Call the Midwife, the centre is to be based within the grounds of St Mary’s Church.

Although the building is popularly known as St Mary’s Churchrooms it is actually officially called Southend School, which closed as a school in the 1950s.

It is currently used by church groups and other organisations in the community, but its origins will come to the fore when it becomes known as the Southend Centre when it opens in early 2016 as the new health centre.

The concept has been the brainchild of well-known local midwife Becky Scott who has been working in Chard for a number of years, but contracted with the NHS at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

Although she has had surgeries within the Essex House medical centre and the Clare House children’s centre in Chard – they have not been ideal and she spends most of her time working from her car.

“We need somewhere which we can call our home base to provide post-natal services which are seriously lacking in the Chard area,” said Becky.

n From page 1 The centre will provide support for mothers and parents and actively promote sexual health education for young people.

Becky is thrilled that Rev Sue Tucker, of St Mary’s Church, and members of the Southend School Education Trust, which owns the building, have been more than happy to support her project.

“We want this to become a very busy place and become an important place for the town,” said Rev Tucker, who has been heavily involved in the project along with Dave Walsham.

Becky added: “It is very exciting and I’m really pleased that my pipedream is actually going to happen.”

She has received great support from other medical professionals in the town who believe it will be a great success and much-needed for the area. It is expected that the centre will be used by midwives, school nurses, members of a mental health team and others from the medical profession. as the centre builds and develops.

A meeting is to be held soon with Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh to discuss the project further and Chard’s needs.