A NEW health hub for Rossendale has been unveiled for the first time but has already met with criticism from residents.

Plans for the replacement Rawtenstall health facility were launched by East Lancashire Primary Care Trust during a public meeting at the town's St Mary's Chambers today.

Located on the site of the former JF Tomlinson slipper factory, off Bacup Road, near to Ilex Mill, health chiefs say the site will incorporate many of the features which used to be offered at Rossendale General Hospital and eventually house around 150 staff.

Under discussion for the site is an urgent care centre, similar to those currently operating at Burnley General and the Royal Blackburn hospitals.

A midwife-led birthing unit, where babies not requiring consultant care can be born, is another feature of the centre, which is almost opposite the existing Rawtenstall Health Centre.

Other services including x-ray, hospice and palliative care, out-patient clinics, minor surgery, a GP practice and mental health facilities are also being discussed for the centre.

But residents were unconvinced at the new plans.

Judith Lord, who lives in Rawtenstall, said: "I really do not think, from what you are saying, that this will compensate for the loss of our hospital.

"You could not ask for a better hospital site than the one we have got - the access is excellent and there is plenty of parking."

Noel O'Brien, from Mercer Crescent, Helmshore, added that he thought the meeting was being held to consult with residents about the site but he was annoyed the decision had already been made.

He added: "Most of the people I have spoken to, if they had a choice, would like it to remain at the current hospital site. It is the only one that meets the criteria."

The meeting heard that East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust had already made a decision to withdraw services from the general hospital site.

A planning application is expected to be lodged with Rossendale council by the end of this month and, if permission is granted, work could begin on the site by the autumn. It is expected to take 18 months to build and should open by 2010.

Health chiefs also denied any "secrecy" surrounding the location of the new centre.

Architect Richard Temple said the site had been considered by another developer for a mixed-used residential and commercial development, which had been rejected by planners.

"We did not want to find ourselves talking up the price, on behalf of the PCT, in terms of the price we had to pay for that land," he added.

Four other sites - at New Hall Hey, Marl Pits, Futures Park in Bacup, the Rawtenstall College site and the existing general hospital site - were all considered by health bosses and dismissed on various grounds of unsuitability.