Council chiefs have been urged to “cut through the red tape” amid growing calls for a new medical centre in a deprived area of Leeds.
Moor Allerton is one of the most disadvantaged parts of north Leeds, with an estimated deprivation rate of 20 per cent.
Yet residents currently have to travel to Shadwell, Alwoodley or Moortown to reach their nearest doctors’ surgery.
A new medical centre is already in the pipeline, with a suitable location identified – and now, councillors for the area are urging the council to “get this project moving”.
Funding for the centre, which also has the backing of the local community, is available from the NHS until next April – but issues around ownership, planning and highways still need to be resolved.
Coun Neil Buckley (Cons, Alwoodley) said: “We have been making the case for a new centre for a considerable time.
“The Moor Allerton area is one of the more deprived parts of our ward and a new centre would be just the kind of shot in the arm the area needs.
“I would urge the council to do everything necessary to get this project moving and not let this opportunity slide.”
The councillors raised the issue at last week’s full council meeting and received a response from Coun Lisa Mulherin, executive board member for health and wellbeing.
She said: “We support proposals for a new purpose-built GP surgery on this site.
“The council is keen to see the scheme succeed and we will continue to work with ward members and NHS colleagues to help the project progress.”
Coun Dan Cohen (Cons, Alwoodley) said: “We have to ensure that there is a future for this much-needed project.
“There are specific issues around land ownership, highways and planning – but nothing that can’t be resolved with some goodwill on all sides.
“We all need to work to ensure it becomes a reality.”
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