A NEW clinic could be built in Otley - if health leaders decide to make it a top priority.

The present site off Manor Square is a possible option for the health centre.

The Leeds North West Primary Care Trust (PCT) is aiming to put forward up to four schemes as part of its ten year plan to improve health care in the area.

The schemes will be paid for out of the private finance initiative Local Implementation Finance Trust (LIFT) under an agreement between the NHS, private developers and the local authority.

Ian Heaven, from the Leeds North West PCT, said they were looking very closely at the Otley Clinic with a view to putting it forward as a redevelopment project.

At the moment, all Leeds PCTs are considering schemes which will be put forward in the first phase of projects sometime early in the new year.

"At the moment we are working on a tight timescale and trying to identify schemes that we can put forward into the first phase," said Mr Heaven.

"We have to be fairly sure of these projects and have to be absolutely confident of the availability of the land and of planning issues."

As an NHS owned property, Otley Clinic, which has been criticised as having poor access and poor parking, would present the PCT with no ownership problems.

Mr Heaven said there were several options to look at with the clinic.

"We are looking quite closely at the clinic to see what possibly might happen there and will shortly be going out to consultation.

"Our situation is we are looking very closely at Otley and have several options of how we could develop the clinic and we plan to consult very shortly."

Councillor Graham Kirkl-and (Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale), a retired general practitioner, hopes that Otley would be selected to make a bid for LIFT cash.

"Otley Clinic was built in the 1960s," he said.

"It suffers from poor access, inadequate parking and flat roof technology.

"The fabric of the building has deteriorated and is now in need of massive repair or replacement."