The date of a consultation on health facilities has come under fire from frustrated town councillors.

On Monday night Witham town councillors discussed the mid-Essex Primary Care Trust (PCT) proposals for a 24/7 health centre in Chelmsford and two linked out of hours services which are planned for Braintree and Maldon.

Initially the PCT consultations did not include a meeting in Witham and the closest consultation was to be held in Wickham Bishops.

Last week the Witham and Braintree Times reported that a meeting has been scheduled for July 21 in Witham Public Hall from 7.30pm until 9pm.

Audrey Harrington, town clerk, said the town council had not been informed of the scheduled meeting.

"We should register the fact that unless it is advertised nobody would attend.

"It's a most bizarre matter because we've not had an email or anything - we have heard nothing at all," Mrs Harrington said.

Bill Rose, Witham town and district councillor, said it might be difficult for all the town council to attend the meeting as it clashes with a separate Braintree District Council meeting.

He said: "The PCT have come across with a meeting on July 21, it would have been more courteous to ring the town clerk to say when would members most likely be available for a meeting."

For the full story see the Witham and Braintree Times.