MEDICAL services in Addingham are to be catapulted into the 21st century with the announcement of the building of a new state-of-the-art health centre in the village.

Instead of a single permanent doctor in the village surgery, there will be at least two doctors in the new centre with associated nurses, midwives, pharmacy, chiropody and other primary health care services.

"This is perhaps the most important development for the village since the building of the bypass," said a very pleased parish council chairman Gordon Campbell.

"It is essential to secure the medical facilities in the village. It is brilliant news and has 100 per cent support from the residents."

The news about the medical centre was announced by Coun Campbell at the annual village meeting.

It comes as a particular boost for Addingham where patients feared they could lose their GP service for good because of new Government regulations.

Two years ago the Government announced proposals to phase out single-practitioner surgeries by 2004. It led to fears that villagers would have to travel to Ilkley or Silsden to see a doctor.

Dr Eugene Raubitschek - who has run his Main Street-based surgery as a sole GP for the last 26 years - worried at the time that the proposals could have had grave implications for health provision in the village. A petition was gathered to protest against the plan.

There was also a problem that the surgery did not comply with new disability access regulations.

Coun Campbell said: "The parish council approached Dr Raubitschek to find out whether it was possible to put forward alternative sites for the medical centre.

"The present surgery does not comply with the Disability Act 2004 and parish council suggested five sites and one has been chosen. Negotiations are proceeding with the Primary Care Trust."

The site chosen is presently occupied by the scout hut at the rear of the Memorial Hall car park on Main Street. The land is owned by the parish and is in a central position in the village.

The plan is to knock down the scout hut and re-accommodate the user groups at the youth centre near the primary school on Bolton Road.

Coun Campbell said: "If we can complete negotiations hopefully plans will be submitted in 2004 for completion in 2005. It is really vital for the village."

He said that the scouts and other groups were happy to change their meeting place.

The money to provide the new medical centre will come from the Government's Local Improvement Finance Trust.

The actual building itself will be paid for by a private contractor and leased back to the Airedale Primary Care Trust (PCT), according to Coun Campbell.

David Riley, director of corporate development at the PCT, said negotiations were still being carried out with various parties and the cost of the centre had not yet been worked out.

Mr Riley said that three private developers had been shortlisted to bid for the project. The cost of the project should be worked out by September this year when the winning bid had been chosen.

Mr Riley said: "We want to expand the GP cover and we are looking to get more support. It will probably go up to two GPs with space for training. We are looking to provide 21st century accommodation in the centre of Addingham. And we have got the support of the parish council."

Mr Riley said that the extra services provided at the Addingham health centre would not affect the future of Ilkley's Coronation Hospital - which is under threat of closure - because different services would be provided at both institutions.

Dr Raubitschek said he was very pleased about the announcement of the new medical centre plan.

He said that the surgery needed much more space and the growing patient list provided enough work for a least two doctors.

"It is very good news and I am looking forward to moving," said Dr Raubitschek