Plans for a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital have been drawn up by bosses of a long established practice.

Ashlands Veterinary Services plans to move out of the converted houses it occupies on Leeds Road, Ilkley, if it persuades Bradford Council to allow it to build the hospital on Ilkley's Ashlands Road.

The proposed site is a Bradford Council-owned plot designated for business use in Bradford Council's Unitary Development Plan.

The new centre would include separate waiting rooms for dogs and cats, more parking space, specially-designed layout to keep operating areas separate from consulting areas, oxygen storage area, and better facilities for inviting in veterinary specialists to hold regular clinics.

Ashlands vets was set up around 16 years ago, and is among the few which still runs its own out-of-hours services.

Partner in the business, Andy MacGregor, says the current premises were designed as a residence and is not ideal for the surgery's use.

An information board giving details of the plan has been put up at the surgery, and Mr MacGregor says enthusiastic customers are planning a petition to the council in support of the plan.

"We've looked at several places outside Ilkley and we could have gone, but we're desperately trying to keep within this area," said Mr MacGregor.

He said the practice would provide more services if it gets the go-ahead for the hospital. Mr MacGregor says specialist consultants in various areas of veterinary medicine often visit the practice, but a hospital environment would be able to cater for more such visits.

Mr MacGregor is studying to become qualified veterinary orthopaedic consultant himself, and says an eye specialist currently visits the practice around once a month.

The planning application says there are currently 20 staff, two extra would be taken on if the centre is built, and 26 car parking spaces would be created.

Plans are available for inspection at Ilkley Planning Office, Ilkley Town Hall. Ilkley Parish Council's Plans Committee will study the scheme at its meeting on Monday (January 22).

The parish council will make a recommendation to Bradford Council, which is expected to determine the plan.

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