Ilkley people will at last get the chance to have their say on plans for the Coronation Hospital at consultation meetings starting next week.

Airedale Primary Care Trust (PCT) has announced public meetings in Addingham, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Ilkley, to discuss the current draft consultation document.

The PCT last week unveiled three proposals for the future of the hospital and its services, at a special broad meeting held in Ilkley. The options are the closure of the hospital with services moving to a new building next door, the closure of the hospital with most services going to the Airedale Hospital, or keeping the hospital as it is.

But heads of the organisation, which owns the hospital, also revealed the consultation options themselves could be altered, as a result of public feedback this month. The formal consultation on the hospital's future will begin next month.

Meetings discussing the draft consultation document will take place at Addingham's Memorial Hall, Main Street, from 7.30pm-9pm on Tuesday, at the Queen's Hall, Burley, from 7.30pm-9pm next Thursday and at the Clarke Foley Centre, Cunliffe Road, Ilkley, from 10.30am to noon on Wednesday July 31.

Staff from Airedale Primary Care Trust and Airedale NHS Trust will talk about their various options for Coronation Hospital during the meetings. Members of the public will have the chance to put forward any further options which will be considered by the board before drawing up a formal consultation document.

Airedale PCT chairman, Liz Wolstenholme, said: "We urge people to come along to these meetings to help us make some difficult decisions and ultimately provide the best possible health services for patients, carers, and everyone who lives in the Ilkley area."

At last week's meeting, the PCT discussed including the creation of an NHS dental practice in the Ilkley area within all three current options.

Health bosses at Airedale Hospital are predicting an overspend of £1.9 million by the end of the financial year.

l Comments on the draft consultation can be made to Kevin Ellis, Chief Executive, 'Ilkley Coronation Hospital Consultation', Airedale primary Care Trust, 21a Mornington Street, Keighley, BD21 2EA.