A petition signed by more than 500 people from Thornbury and the surrounding area has been presented to health ministers.

The petition calls on ministers to rethink their decision to reject the funding application for the new Health Centre in Thornbury.

Plans for the centre, which would combine St Mary’s, Streamside and Dr Foubister’s surgeries, were given the go-ahead last year but suffered a setback in December when a bid for £10million of government funding was unsuccessful.

On Friday a team of Liberal Democrat campaigners, including Mayor of Thornbury, Cllr Shirley Holloway, and Parliamentary Candidate Cllr Claire Young, travelled to the Department of Health in London to submit the petition addressed to Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Cllr Shirley Holloway said: “Thornbury has a desperate need for a new health centre. With the many new houses coming to the town we need improved health services to match the rising demand.

Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr Claire Young, added: “It's time the government listened to the people of Thornbury and gave them the health services they deserve."

David Jarrett, area director for South Gloucestershire at the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG, recently reiterated his commitment to redeveloping the health centre.

Conservative councillor Matthew Riddle has put forward a plan to buy land surrounding the health centre and hospital, currently owned by North Bristol NHS Trust and NHS Property Services respectively.

A land valuation process is underway.