IT is a confusing argument to follow - but it is one of the most important decisions faced by this district for many years.

A public meeting is being held in Skipton Town Hall on Thursday at 7pm (and at a later date in Glusburn, Ingleton and Settle) about plans to merge Craven with Harrogate to provide primary health care (ie before you go to a hospital).

This is public consultation with, in the modern style, only one option. So far we have reported on widespread opposition from various health professionals around the district.

It is worrying that consultants at Airedale and a considerable number of doctors and nurses feel that this is, in the words on this page of Dr Tom Gibson, the much respected retired Dyneley House doctor and former member of Airedale Hospital Trust board, "a messy compromise".

The argument is not about going to Harrogate Hospital instead of Airedale - all agree that this will not happen in the short to medium term - but it is about the future status and independence of Airedale.

We urge members of the public to attend, listen to the arguments both for and against, make up their minds and decide whether they agree or not with the proposal. If not they need to fight it.

Our community can have no complaints if it neglects its opportunity to participate now and ends up with something it does not like later.