A NEW sexual health clinic will open in Basildon town centre.

Planning permission has been approved to convert an empty office in Southgate House, Town Square, into a sexual health clinic.

Provide, the community interest company, has recently been appointed to provide the service across Essex, on behalf on Essex County Council.

The company will add the new Basildon clinic to its recently opened Harlow and Chelmsford clinics.

Refurbishment work on the site will start soon, with Provide aiming to open the clinic early next year.

Councillor David Burton-Sampson, responsible for St Martin’s ward, said: “This is absolutely good news.

“Services such as this are really important.

“To have a medical facility like this in the town centre is a huge bonus.

“It is easily accessible, which makes a big difference to people searching medical attention.

“Maybe that is a model we should look at for all health facilities in the future, where services are based in town centre’s and readily available to all. “I can only see this as a positive move.”

The Essex Sexual Health Service has been commissioned by Essex County Council to deliver a full range of sexual health services for the people of Essex.

These services include general advice, counselling and support, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and diseases, as well as offering all forms of contraception, chlamydia screening and pregnancy testing.

On behalf of the Essex Sexual Health Service, Jane Corser, executive clinical and operations director at Provide said: “We have received notification that our planning application to open a sexual health facility in Southgate House in Basildon has been granted.

“Refurbishment works are about to commence with a view to being ready to open early in 2018. This will provide a brand new clinical setting for the Essex Sexual Health Service.

“Closer to the opening of this new facility we will publicise details of the services that will be available, opening times and other relevant details.” Get more deatils at essexsexualhealthservice.org.uk