WORK is starting on converting a shop in Royston into an NHS dental surgery. Dentist Robert Ayre has battled for six years to set-up an NHS surgery but has been thwarted in the past due to planning regulations and legal problems. But now the purchase of t

WORK is starting on converting a shop in Royston into an NHS dental surgery.

Dentist Robert Ayre has battled for six years to set-up an NHS surgery but has been thwarted in the past due to planning regulations and legal problems.

But now the purchase of the property in Queens Road has been completed.

The property will undergo refurbishment which will take about 20 weeks.

A spokeswoman for the surgery told The Crow yesterday (Wednesday): "It's slightly spooky that we have completed our property purchase on the anniversary of our opening our original surgery. We are taking a positive approach and looking at time as a good omen."

Originally, Mr Ayres looked at a vacant property on the corner of Barkway Road and Priory Lane, and had considered purchasing the disused Victorian schoolhouse in Market Hill.