TOWN councillors have given support to plans for a NHS dental surgery in Royston. Members of Royston Town Council s planning committee said the surgery was desperately needed. The plan has been submitted by dentist Robert Ayre, who has spent the past six

TOWN councillors have given support to plans for a NHS dental surgery in Royston.

Members of Royston Town Council's planning committee said the surgery was desperately needed.

The plan has been submitted by dentist Robert Ayre, who has spent the past six years attempting to establish a NHS surgery in Royston.

His new scheme involves converting a disused shop in Queens Road, Royston, into a surgery.

Cllr Rod Kennedy said at Monday evening's meeting: "Every time he has attempted to set up a surgery something has come up to prevent it.

"It's time he was given permission to provide something that is desperately needed."

The committee said that the scheme did not seem to raise any parking issues in the area.

There is now the hope that members of North Herts District Council's Royston area committee will give the go-ahead for the scheme.

Over recent years Mr Ayre has been prevented from setting up a NHS surgery through planning laws and being unable to reach an agreement over a property.

Plans to convert a disused building at the corner of Priory Lane and Barkway Road were turned down on planning grounds.

Later plans to take over the disused Victorian schoolhouse in Market Hill came to an end over problems about converting the property.

Joan Yates, speaking for the surgery, told The Crow that they were "optimistic" about being allowed planning permission.

"We've always been aware that there is a demand for more NHS facilities in Royston.

"We're committed to the NHS as long as the NHS is there," she said.

"We hope that this time there are not going to be any stumbling blocks."

Mr Ayre opened an NHS surgery at the Royston Health Centre six years ago - but there are now no vacancies for new patients.

The surgery in Queens Road will see the conversion of a shop that was once Marsom's butchers.

It is hoped that the surgery will be able to deal with about 7,500 new NHS patients.