A NEW health centre in Thornbury is a big deal. Something that the town has been clamouring after for quite a few years, so advice from the top is definitely a step in the right direction.

But it will be, by no means, a quick process. There will be years of planning, negotiating and applications before a brick of a new building is laid.

Mr Hunt’s visit by no means is a commitment from government to the project, offering no guarantee that we will see the drastic improvements that the campaigners want but by showing an interest and coming to give some tips to the parties involved things do look positive.

So you have to wonder, if the potential for such a ground-breaking new facility is within the town’s reach, why has it taken until now for this visit to happen? Had the government listened more to the calls years ago, we could be much further through the process.

It seems only time will tell if it is a genuine prospect or just another political publicity stunt.