Addingham Parish Council has completed the sale of land on which the village’s new medical centre will be built.

The site behind Addingham Memorial Hall has been sold to village GP Dr Adil Suleman and the deal means building work can start immediately.

Contractors are expected to begin clearing the site in the next few days.

Announcing the deal, parish council vice-chairman Ian Taylor said: “We wish Dr Suleman every success building and running the medical centre which we are sure will be of great benefit to the village for many years to come.

“Negotiations over the sale of the land have gone on longer than expected for various reasons, but we are very pleased to have reached a deal in the end.”

The new surgery is expected to open around June, 2009, with a much improved range of primary care services being provided in the community. Details are currently being drawn up by the Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust which will rent part of the centre from Dr Suleman.

“This is excellent news for Addingham,” said council chairman Alison Widdup. “When the centre opens for business it will mean that many more essential medical services can be delivered at the heart of our community and closer to people’s homes.”