HEALTH chiefs are planning to rebuild Wharfedale Hospital on its current Otley site.

Last week, the health trust announced Otley mill owner Garnett had rejected its offer for the preferred site off Pool Road. It confirmed its commitment to a new hospital and said it was pressing ahead with the outline business case due to go to the regional NHS executive later this month.

But yesterday, David Johnson, chief executive of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said the trust was now reconsidering the two second best options - High Royds Hospital at Menston and the current hospital site in Newall Carr Road.

But he said planning restrictions on High Royds meant the trust would be submitting its business case based on the Newall Road site.

He added a third option previously not considered was also being looked at.

"We remain fully committed to creating a new hospital and will be submitting our outline business case for the hospital in mid October as scheduled. "We are naturally disappointed that an offer that we believe to be very fair and -reasonable was rejected by the owners of the Garnett's mill site.

He said: "We need to take account of the High Royds buildings and grounds having been listed as being of architectural or historical importance, which occurred after the option appraisal was completed. This may affect the viability of the High Royds option and leave the existing site as the way forward proposed in the Outline Business case."

Harold Best, MP for Leeds North West, following a meeting with Labour councillors and representatives of the trust and health authority, said he had been assured the hospital would be rebuilt on the present site.

He said it meant there would be no unnecessary delay and the new hospital would contain the full range of services agreed in July's consultation.

"I hope these assurances which come from the highest possible levels in the trust and the health authority will go some way to calming the concerns of people over the future of their hospital."

Mr Johnson added that speculation over a possible further site was premature.

"The trust has been approached over a possible new site in Otley and preliminary discussions are taking place. They may lead to more detailed work or to the site being ruled out very quickly."

l Row over talks breakdown - Page 7