VILLAGE doctors have been asked to speak at a council meeting after saying no to pleas for Saturday morning surgeries.

The Chevin Medical Practice, on Tredgold Crescent, has said it will not consider holding GP appointments on Saturday mornings or Wednesday afternoons in Bramhope, despite requests from villagers.

Instead, patients must travel to Otley to visit the practice's other surgery in Bridge Street. The surgery wrote to Bramhope Parish Council, saying research showed the two Otley doctors provided adequate cover, and patients did not face long waits for an appointment.

Now members of Bramhope Parish Council are inviting GPs to come to one of their meetings to discuss the lack of Saturday morning surgeries at the new £500,000 medical centre.

They fear patients who work during the day may finding it difficult to get to weekday appointments. Councillor Clive Fox said: "When they wanted planning consent for their spanking new surgery, they were quick to come and see us. "

And Councillor Geoff Mills said he would like to see details of the research into patient requirements carried out by the surgery.

He said: "They are employed by the people in this room, and in this village. We are their customers, and they should be customer responsive."

l A councillor is saying little about his decision to stand down from the Otley and Wharfedale ward Community Involvement Team.

Bramhope Parish Council chairman John Mordy has resigned from his post on the ward CIT, which formed earlier this year. The team was set up to debates issues of concern in the area. Coun Mordy said his decision to resign was not specifically related to a debate which blew up at the CIT, over his call for a boundaries review. But he said he did not want to discuss the full details of his decision.

Bramhope Parish Council is now seeking to appoint another person to the CIT.