People living in the Peasedown St John area are looking forward to a jobs bonanza at the healthcare centre planned on the village outskirts.The Centres of Clinical Excellence company, which is planning the new facility, has pledged to create up to 150 permanent jobs, plus more than 200 construction jobs while the centre is being built.

On Saturday, villagers got their first chance to see plans drawn up by international architects Norman Foster and Associates, showing a modern clinic with facilities for day surgery, operations and therapies.

But what many villagers were really keen on when they went to the exhibition, at Peasedown Adult Education Centre, was the job aspect of the scheme, said Bath and North East Somerset councillor Sarah Bevan (Lib Dem, Peasedown).

She said: "There was a steady stream of visitors for about two hours, and everybody was thrilled with the scheme. There was nobody who said they were worried at an increase in traffic, and nobody had any misgivings.

"Quite a few said they wanted a word put in for them for a job. One of the most important jobs there, which indicates the whole ethos of the new clinic, is for greeters.

"Whenever anyone arrives there, from the moment they step in through the doors, they will have someone with them all the time, showing them where to go and helping them to get there."

Besides medical jobs, there will also be positions in maintenance and gardening.

Another public exhibition of the plans will be held at Peasedown's adult education centre, next to the village youth centre, on Wednesday and Thursday October 18 and 19, from 4pm to 8pm each day.

A planning application has been lodged with B &NES. If it is approved, work could start in June 2007 with completion in December 2008.

The centre will the first of its kind in the UK, co-owned by Centres of Clinical Excellence with medical staff, and with facilities for NHS and private patients.

(This story is taken from the Somerset Guardian at http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/, the story was written by Wendy Walker)