PARKING and road safety issues look like being the key remaining sticking points over plans to create a new £3.5 million health centre in Yeadon.

Although ward councillors still have concerns over the scale of the proposed development for South View Road, most seem to have come around to accepting its size as a necessary evil.

Four councillors, two Conservatives from the Guiseley and Rawdon ward and two Liberal Democrats representing Otley and Yeadon, met with Leeds North West Primary Care Trust (PCT) last week to discuss outstanding issues.

The public will get a chance today to see for themselves what the amended plans (drawn up by the PCT and the Leeds LIFT limited NHS and private firms consortia) look like as they go on display at Yeadon Library.

Councillor Graham Latty (Con, Guiseley and Rawdon), who went to last Wednesday's meeting, said: "The discussion really centred on what to do about the parking.

"Although there are still minor concerns about the building itself because it is very big - it will probably be the second biggest in Yeadon once it's completed.

"But the situation is that the PCT say all the services planned to go in there are needed. And I do believe this will provide almost a cottage hospital in Yeadon, where they will be able to do a great deal of 'on the spot' treatment, including dentistry.

"Whether people are going to be happy with such a big building is another matter, and there's more discussion to be had about that.

"But last week's meeting was really about trying to find the best way of parking vehicles in terms of how many spaces were needed and if there was anywhere else that could be used.

"So the project is moving forward and should go before the plans panel this month."

If approved, the primary care centre would provide a base for GPs, practice and district nurses, minor surgery, dentistry, speech therapists and health visitors.

Last month the PCT announced that its amended proposals, following months of consultation, were ready to be published and they will be considered by Leeds City Council's Plans Panel West on Thursday, December 16.

But Councillor Ryk Downes (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon), who was also involved in last week's talks, believes some key details still need to be ironed out.

He said: "I've asked them to put more into the scheme for road safety, in terms of looking at making improvements to the roads around there.

"That includes repairing some of the roads in the area and adding things like pavements to improve safety for pedestrians, and a crossing at the junction close-by where we unfortunately had a fatal accident recently.

"We have also asked the PCT to notify residents about the amended plans exhibition which is due to take place, so they are kept informed about the plans.

"Because I would like to hear people's views. I am a member of the plans panel which will consider this scheme, and I haven't pre-judged it, although I have, in my capacity as a ward councillor, passed on comments from people who have concerns about it.

"I think the health centre is needed and that it will be a good thing for Yeadon, but I am concerned about the size of the development and I've asked them to look further into the parking, because I don't think there's enough at the moment.

"I want the best for Yeadon and while I'm concerned that this health centre is very big I have been assured that it is necessary. It will be a positive addition if the package we get is right."