Councillors fight for centre goes to London

A Sedgely councillor says losing a vital health facility would be another blow to an area he says already feels like borough ‘also-rans’. 

Cllr Shaun Keasey is concerned negotiations on the future of the Ladies Walk Health Centre do not appear to be moving forward.

He took his message to the London headquarters of Aviva, which owns the centre building, on July 30 to encourage bosses to finalise a deal with Dudley Council on a new lease to keep the building open as a health centre and library.

Cllr Keasey said: “The council must be aware of not just the financial value of that centre but also the social value as well.

“We cannot have another facility taken away from the north of the borough, we already feel like also-rans.

“Services seem to disappear to the south or somewhere else – we must keep this facility open.”

The Ladies Walk Centre was purpose built by the private sector and leased to public authorities; the lease expires in March 2026.

The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust released a statement in May 2025 which said: “Following the meeting on 21st May regarding the future of Ladies Walk in Sedgley, we are committed to  continuing to provide services in the Sedgley locality. 

“We understand the depth of feeling within the community and have heard your views on Ladies Walk and the services that you currently access. 

“We remain in conversation with the landlord through our council colleagues and continue to explore the viability of retaining services in the  building.”

Dudley MP Sonia Kumar has also been calling for a deal to be completed and presented a petition in the House of Commons calling on the government to put pressure on the owners of the centre, Dudley Council and the NHS to secure a deal and stop closure of the centre.

Ms Kumar told the Local Democracy Reporting Service her understanding is that negotiations are still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Cllr Keasey, who delivered a letter from residents expressing support for the centre to Aviva in the capital, is growing impatient.

He said: “There is another meeting in September, I’d like them to announce it’s all sorted and there is a new agreement in place – if it isn’t done I will be worried.”