FOUR public consultation meetings to debate the future of Ilkley's Coronation Hospital have been unveiled.

Hospital owner Airedale Prim-ary Care Trust (PCT) has announ-ced the dates and venues of meetings which will finally give residents their chance to speak out for their local hospital's services.

The first oneg will take place at the Clarke Foley Centre, Cunliffe Road, Ilkley, from 12.45pm to 1.45pm on Wednesday September 24.

An evening meeting has also been organised at the Clarke Foley Centre the same day to give working people the chance to attend and voice their views. This meeting will take place from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Addingham residents will be able to have their say on the future of their local hospital services at Addingham Memorial Hall, Main Street, from 7pm to 8.30pm on Friday October 10.

Another meeting will take place at the Queen's Hall, Main Street, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

The public consultation will discuss the two current options suggested by the PCT for the future of the hospital and its services.

The options include the closure of the hospital once services have been moved to a new extension to the neighbouring Springs Medical Centre, or keeping the hospital open and upgrading the building.

Although the PCT has dropped the option of closing the hospital and moving most services to the Airedale General Hospital, Stee-ton, campaigners are warning Ilkley people against complacency - and urging them to attend the meetings.

Ilkley parish councillor, Mike Gibbons, said: "I'd encourage as many people as possible to attend as this is the opportunity to affect any decision that may be made for the future of health services in the parish, and probably the biggest decision that the area has seen in a long, long time."

Councillor Gibbons has been heading the campaign within the parish to keep the current services in the area.

He believes the PCT is willing to listen to people, and appealed for residents to help the Trust gauge a realistic view of local opinion.

"Please come along and make your thoughts known, as this can only help to aid the process," said Coun Gibbons.

"I would like to say again that although we're down to two options, it's very important that the correct option is chosen, to ensure long-term provision of the correct services to fulfil the needs of the community."

The two pre-consultation meetings held in Ilkley were well-attended, but similar meetings which took place in Burley-in-Wharfedale and Addingham was poorly attended.

Those not able to attend any of the meetings can still make their views known by filling in an official Ilkley Coronation Hospital Consultation questionnaire.

Copies of the public consultation document and questionnaire are available from: GP practices at 103 Main Street, Addingham; Grange Park Surgery, Burley-in-Wharfe-dale and the Springs Medical Centre, Springs Lane, Ilkley.

They will also be available from Ilkley Library, Station Road, the Clarke Foley Centre, Cunliffe Road, Christchurch, The Grove, Moor Court Resource Centre and Coronation Hospital itself.

They can be accessed via the Internet at www.airedale-pct.nhs.uk/IlkleyConsultation_ilkleyconsultation.htm or by contacting Anthony Jones, Project Administrator, 'Ilkley Coronation Hospital Consultation', Airedale Primary Care Trust, 21a Morning-ton Street, Keighley, BD21 2EA, or calling (01535) 672635.