People are being invited to come up with ideas to help improve health services in the Ilkley and Burley area.

Airedale Primary Care Trust has dropped plans to close Ilkley's Coronation Hospital after huge opposition from people afraid that services would be moved from Ilkley to the Airedale Hospital at Steeton.

Health chiefs now propose two alternatives - to keep and upgrade Ilkley Coronation or to provide a new extension to neighbouring Springs Medical Centre.

David Riley, the PCT's director of corporate planning, said: "We dropped the plan to close the hospital because it was clear from the questionnaires and public meetings that an awful of people were concerned about that. We have listened and revised our document accordingly.

"We are inviting people to come forward with ideas. Nothing is black and white. If people come along with real alternatives, we will listen."

He said the PCT still believed Coronation Hospital was not ideal for providing 21st century health care and it would be better to provide it in a new building rather than trying to upgrade a century-old complex.

He said that, over the next weeks, the PCT would demonstrate how new services would be provided and it was hoped to allay any fears.

"We are not planning to cut wholesale services in Ilkley but to provide them in a different way," he added.

The PCT was also aiming to provide new facilities at various locations including Bingley and Keighley, which could involve extending GP surgeries.

The Coronation Hospital currently provides minor injuries treatment, an outpatients clinic, day hospital for older patients, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, X-ray department, chiropody and healthcare psychology.

The trust would not have to pay for a new extension as it would be built by a private firm and leased out.

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposals should request a copy of the consultation document and questionnaire from Anthony Jones, Project Administrator, Ilkley Coronation Hospital Consultation., Airedale Primary Care Trust, 21a Mornington Street, Keighley, BD21 2EA before November 15