WORK has started on a new £23million community ­facility in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire.

The new Wishaw Centre will house a range of NHS Lanarkshire and North Lan­arkshire Council services.

To enable the construction work to be carried out, the former library car park, in Kenilworth Avenue, has been closed.

A parking area has been created at the location of the temporary library in East Academy Street.

Graham Johnston, head of management services for NHS Lanarkshire, said: "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and would advise people to use other car parks in and around the town centre."

The new 7800sq m centre will replace the existing health centre, the North ­Lanarkshire Council library, First-Stop-Shop and housing service, relocating them all under one roof in the heart of town centre.

Mr Johnston added: "We have been working in partnership with North Lanarkshire Council to ensure the building is of the right size and specification to deliver high-quality community services.

"Once complete, the Wishaw Centre will include a car park with sufficient spaces to ­support the new facility."

stef.lach@eveningtimes.co.uk