GRANTING planning permission to large housing developments in Craven without making appropriate provision for services is putting a strain on local dentists, according to a Hellifield resident.

Peter Cunningham, who moved to the village earlier this year with his wife Jane and young son David, said finding an NHS dentist had been an almost impossible task.

Mr Cunningham said when he moved into his new house on Rowan Lane - part of a large development by Gleeson Homes - he had expected to find the usual health service provisions in place.

However, when his wife contacted private and NHS dentists in the nearest towns and villages, she found every one was full.

"Settle was full, Skipton was full, the nearest place was Grassington and we were placed on a reserve list there," said Mr Cunningham. "There's three of us that need dental care, including my 17-month-old son, and Grassington is quite a trek from here."

He added that there was no problem finding a doctor, describing the service at Townhead surgery in Settle and the Village Well at Hellifield as "fabulous".

But he complained: "Craven District Council is charging substantial rates in communities, but the services they are providing are limited."

He says local authorities should give more consideration to local services when formulating local development plans, to accommodate any increase in demand.

He added that the development of a caravan park, including static caravans, between Hellifield and Long Preston would add even more strain on dentists.

Coun Helen Firth took up Mr Cunningham's cause at a meeting of Craven District Council, asking if there was any liaison with the Craven, Harrogate and Rural District Primary Care Trust, which looks after local health services, when drawing up the Local Plan.

Carl Lis, chairman of the performance and resources committee, replied: "Consideration is given to the provision of all health services, including doctors and dentists as part of the development plan process, rather than in respect of individual planning applications. For example, the relevant health authorities/trusts at the time of the preparation of the Craven Local Plan were consulted on the proposed scale and distribution and specific locations of development in the plan area, including the proposed housing sites at Hellifield.

"The health authorities/trusts did not raise any service provision objections to the scale, distribution or location of development in the plan area."

Coun Lis explained that the council was currently preparing a Local Development Framework to replace the Local Plan and the Primary Care Trust would be an important consultee.

Lynda Wigley, director of primary care at the Trust said the lack of NHS dentists was a "continuing problem" throughout Craven. However, she said the Trust had put in a successful bid for funding and hoped to employ a salaried dentist to serve Craven in the near future.

Mrs Wigley said: "The Trust is now working hard to get this service up and running as soon as possible. Once it is up and running, we will let people know."

She added that the provision of dentists needed to be considered in any future Local Development Plan. In the meantime, anyone struggling to register with a dentist should call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.