Ilkley has moved a step closer to a new £1 million 'one-stop shop' for healthcare after parish councillors gave the scheme their blessing.

Members of the parish council's planning committee met on Monday evening to examine plans to convert the existing health centre which has been in Springs Lane for 30 years.

The site is owned by Airedale NHS Trust, which is selling it to Benchmark Northern of Sheffield.

The company will then lease it back to the doctors. Staff based at the centre believe a new medical facility will be good news for them and good news for Ilkley residents.

Medical staff have simply run out of space and the four practices based in the existing centre have nowhere to expand.

The new centre will be state of the art, with physiotherapy facilities and possibly even a dental suite.

Coun Kate Brown, chairman of the parish council, said: "After studying the plans we recommended approval although we have suggested that the building might be set a bit further back and be at a slightly lower level."

This approval follows Coun Brown's earlier comments that: "Anything that can keep the people of Ilkley in Ilkley without them having to travel for their health needs is a good thing."

The final decision lies with Bradford planners, who will examine the scheme at a forthcoming meeting.

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