COUNCILLORS are outraged after health chiefs revealed a replacement medical centre would not be ready for 20 years.

The news comes after two officials from Warrington Primary Care Trust visited Stockton Heath Parish Council to talk about the closure of Whitefield Road medical centre.

With the village service closing, the nearest surgery will be Grappenhall while for other treatment residents may have to travel as far as Woolston.

Councillor Wendy Emsley said: "It's not satisfactory for the people of south Warrington. Now we have to go right across the town."

Angela Lynch, director and chief operating officer at the PCT who attended the meeting said: "In Stockton Heath it has always been about financial constraints.

"The PCT want to make changes to improve it in the future but it is all down to money."

Mrs Lynch added the selling of the Whitefield Road medical centre was part of a bigger plan to pay off PCT debt.

There will now be a three month consultation period.