NHS dental plans go on view

Plans for a new £1 million-plus NHS dentistry centre in Leominster, which will look after more than 11,000 patients, have gone on display at the town’s Info Shop, in Corn Square.

The new centre will consist of eight consulting rooms and will replace and expand the present facilities spread around Leominster.

A planning application has been submitted to Herefordshire Council’s Northern Area Planning Sub Committee. The application is due to be considered in the near future.

Illustrated drawings of the new building will remain on show at The Info Shop for the foreseeable future and members of the public are being invited to have their say.

Under the development Herefordshire Council will provide land at Dishley Street car park and Herefordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) will be responsible for building the surgery.

While the work will result in the loss of provisionally 50 spaces at the Dishley Street car park these will, however, be replaced by the opening up of 55 additional spaces at the Etnam Street car park.

Simon Hairsnape from the PCT confirmed they had been looking for a suitable site to build the new centre for nearly a year before entering an agreement with Herefordshire Council.

The facility should be open next summer.

Cllr June French, Cabinet Member (Corporate Customer Services and Human Resources), said: “I am delighted that Leominster will benefit from these improved services.

“We often hear about the decline of rural services but this development will provide much needed care to the community.

“By having the plans on display members of the public will be able to view the building and see for themselves what it will look like.”

Comments should be addressed to Herefordshire Council’s Planning Services, PO Box 230, Blueschool House, Blueschool Street, Hereford, HR1 2ZB.