HEALTH chiefs have voted to close a 'much loved' Southampton walk-in centre at a meeting today. 

The 13 members of Southampton's Clinical Commissioning Group Board voted to close the Commercial Street centre and divert funds to other health services.

The decision at the meeting at Central Hall, Evans Street, St Mary's, was opposed by members of the public with one person walking out before the vote was cast shouting "No privatisation, keep it open".

Dr Sue Robinson, clinical chair of the CCG, said that they had listened to the views of the public but felt that they had to close the centre.

She said: "We need to make difficult decisions that benefit the health of everybody in the city, not just those on one side of the city."

She added that they will be doing more to improve access to GP services and improve awareness of other services and will be monitoring the impact of the decision.

She also said that the centre will not be reinstated.

Nick Chaffey, of the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition, who campaigned against the closure, described the decision as "shocking".

He said: "It's shocking, there's a consultation where 70 per cent of the people who took part say they don't want this service closed and the actions of the board have thrown their views away."