A doctors' surgery which was set up in Keighley at the end of the 19th century is looking to start the new Millennium in a state-of-the-art health centre.

Bradford Council has agreed that part of Scott Street car park, the biggest in Keighley, can be sold to Ling House surgery to build a new base for its 9,300 patients.

Staff from the Skipton Road clinic will be seeking cash grants to help finance the project and plans are being drawn up ready to be submitted to Bradford planners for approval.

Practice manager Carole Short, who said it was too soon to say how much the scheme would cost, said: "We are very pleased with the decision of the Council and staff are very enthusiastic about the prospect of a new health centre. We have been in this building for over one hundred years and health care has changed dramatically, especially in the last decade.

"The building is not adequate enough to provide the services we offer. We need to replace this Victorian building which over the years has been extended by adapting several neighbouring terraced houses."

She said the clinic employs more than 20 staff, plus other professionals, yet there is only parking available for six cars in the garden of the former terraced houses.

The facilities are currently spread over three floors, which is not convenient for some patients, especially disabled ones. Waiting rooms are on the second floor, there are too few consulting rooms, especially in view of the many other people who used them, including chiropodists and counsellors.

She added there is only one treatment room and a consulting room sometimes has to double as a treatment room.

"This is a very big, rambling building which is just not adequate for the needs of our patients and staff," she added.

Ling House surgery was established in 1895 by Harold Ling, who was eventually joined by his son William Ling and his wife Mona. Later their son John joined the practice but died of hepatitis at 26 when working as a house physician at the old Victoria Hospital in Keighley. The link with the Ling family ended when Dr William Ling retired aged 63.

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