THE Abbey Stadium will no longer be the site for the new Covid-19 test centre, according to Redditch MP Rachel Maclean.
Public health officials have told Mrs Maclean that the walk-in test facility will instead be at the Trafford Retail Park.
“Following further conversations with local Public Health officials, I’m now told the car park at the Trafford Retail Park, where you’ll find Aldi & Pets at Home, has been chosen as the location for the testing site,” said Mrs Maclean.
“The reason for this is to avoid confusion with the mobile testing unit at the Abbey Stadium which residents may have already seen.
“Following the previous announcement, a number of constituents rightly pointed out that the Abbey Stadium was not easily accessible by foot.”
The new facility is expected to be up and running in October, however the exact date has not been revealed by the Department of Health & Social Care.
In the meantime the mobile testing unit will be back at the Abbey Stadium in October to ensure residents can still easily access testing.
Mrs Maclean added: “As it’s mobile, it moves around Worcestershire and spends a week at a time at different locations.
“This is why it’s great we’re getting a more permanent walk-in site because this facility will remain in place for a minimum of three months.”
Cases remain low in Redditch and there is currently only one person at the Alexandra Hospital with coronavirus.
