ANOTHER crucial meeting to discuss plans for a new Wharfedale Hospital is due to take place tomorrow.

Leeds Health Authority has called a special meeting to consider the outline business case for a new hospital.

After more than two decades of debate, the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust now says it intends to build a new hospital on the existing site in Newall Carr Road. Talks between the trust and Otley landowner Garnett over the preferred site off Pool Road fell through last month.

Representatives from Otley Town Council will be at the meeting and

members of the public will be invited to ask questions.

The trust needs the support of the health authority and the North West Leeds Primary Care Group before the OBC can be forwarded to the regional health executive for approval.

Tomorrow's meeting at Leeds Civic Hall is due to start at 12.30pm.

l Health chiefs have declined to meet Otley councillors to discuss Wharfedale Hospital.

The town council asked for an urgent meeting with the hospital trust after the collapse of talks with Garnetts's.

Councillor Colin Campbell said: "We were upset that they appear to have avoided having a meeting with us."

Coun Campbell said the council wanted to ask how the situation had been allowed to turn around so drastically and where the money to build the new

hospital would now be coming from.

A spokesman for the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust said the trust had held meetings with local councillors and Harold Best MP to discuss the situation.