HOSPITAL chiefs hoping to put their bid to build a new Wharfedale Hospital in Otley back on track are examining innovative ways to combat the threat of flooding on the proposed site.

As revealed by the Wharfedale Observer earlier this year, the Environment Agency has objected to outline plans to build a new community-style hospital at the Garnett's Paper Mill site because they say it is on a flood plain.

Now health chiefs are looking at ways to overcome the problem - and the agency's objections to the plans - by either building an embankment for the access road to go on, or raising the road, possibly with stone supports.

And they hope that once this obstacle is overcome, it will be relatively plain sailing to get the plans passed.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman Andrew Bannister said: "The trust's planning application for outline permission for a new hospital has not been withdrawn, but has been deferred due to the Environment Agency's objection because of a hypothetical risk of flooding.

"This would not affect the hospital itself, but relates to the access road.

"The trust is working with Garnett's on a technical solution, probably an embankment or raised road, which we hope will alleviate such fears."

He added that their commitment to the Garnett's site as the base for the new Wharfedale Hospital remained absolute.

"The trust believes it will offer an expanded range of services bringing healthcare closer to the local population," he said.

"The full proposal is set out in the current consultation document and we hope people will take the opportunity to consider the plans and make their views known to the Health Authority."

It is understood that Garnett's is still looking at proposals to build houses on the site, despite being refused outline permission by a Government planning inspector in January.

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