After the emergence of plans for a huge new health centre which would serve more than 13,000 people, many have shared their thoughts on the proposed facility.

The proposal follows 15 years of campaigning and the borough’s clinical commissioning group withdrawing support for previous plans for the site back in April.

Cllr Howard Sykes, leader of Oldham's Liberal Democrats and councillor for Shaw welcomes the new plans.

He said: "The submission of a planning application for our new health centre is great news for Shaw and Crompton and further evidence this is happening this time.  

"Access to modern healthcare facilities is a top priority for the people we represent.

"What we’ve had is a long and uncertain journey to this point over many years but by working constructively, local Liberal Democrat councillors, have now helped it get across the line.  

"We continue to work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure the new health centre becomes a reality for residents.

"This news is very welcome indeed and is a poke in the eye for those who talk our area down and said it would never happen."

Cllr Sykes has campaigned for a health centre for several years and when the previous plans fell through, he described it as a "kick in the teeth".

According to the planning application's design and access report, the health centre "will provide a modern facility which will offer a wide range of medical facilities and services such as GP, community and mental health, diabetes and respiratory clinics and specialist physiotherapy".

Jo Opsimath welcomed the news as she commented on Facebook: "A diabetes centre will be a very good addition to services in Shaw and Crompton.

"The present diabetes care falls short of what it should be."

Other readers were cautiously optimistic about the news as they questioned if the health centre would be able to employ enough staff to meet demand.

Maggie Harrop said that the news was "good" but asked if there were going to be enough doctors for patients to see.

Meanwhile, Pat Mills wrote that she approved of the plans but only if there were enough medical staff to run it.

A decision on the proposal is expected by mid-November.