DOCTORS at Grange Park Surgery in Burley-in-Wharfedale have welcomed news Bradford Council has agreed to allocate funding to enable them to expand.

The surgery had requested funding for an extension to meet the increased demand caused by new residential developments at Sun Lane and Ilkley Road and this week members of Bradford Council’s Executive agreed to confirm an allocation of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) of no more than £400,000 at the Executive Committee in July 2024.

The Council said the CIL payments from the residential development at Sun Lane and Ilkley Road will be collected shortly so an allocation cannot be agreed to this year but a funding agreement will be reached with Grange Park Surgery subject to the CIL payments for this development being received.

Currently the practice has a patient population of 6900 compared to 4500 when it first opened in 1984 and in its current state could not cope with additional demand on services from residents of the new Sun Lane housing development.

Dr Caroline Rayment, of Grange Park Surgery said: "Grange Park Surgery is delighted with the decision of Bradford Council to pass a recommendation in principle for the use of the CIL towards the funding of the much-needed extension for the surgery. This allows us to move forward. Although there is still some way to go.

"This has been a huge commitment from many people to get it to this stage. Due to the influx of new houses in the area we would be unable to see additional patients without the extra space we so desperately need.

"We have been supported by our community, our patient group, and our local Councillor Bob Felstead. We are also pleased to have received all party support from our local MP Philip Davies and neighbouring MP Robbie Moore who have been advocating on our behalf. In addition, Dr Anna Dixon (Shipley's parliamentary candidate for Labour) and newly elected Councillor Chris Steele have also been strong advocates. We thank them all for their efforts on our behalf and for our patients.

"We are continuing to work with Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership to support us with our efforts to secure further funding - we appreciate all the help and support they have given us to date."

Shipley MP Philip Davies said he was delighted the council had "finally succumbed" to pressure to ensure CIL money was used to provide the surgery with additional capacity.

Ilkley Gazette: Philip Davies MPPhilip Davies MP (Image: Newsquest)

"This has been a huge battle - when there should have been no battle at all," he said. "Bradford Council's initial reluctance to use the CIL money from the development for this purpose was utterly bewildering. It is Bradford Council who made Burley-in-Wharfedale a growth area for housing leading to the huge development on the green belt at Sun Lane - which I still consider to be an act of vandalism - and so the least they can do is to ensure that Burley-in-Wharfedale gets the infrastructure needed to cope with that housing expansion.

"I have been working closely on this issue with the surgery and I know that Caroline Rayment at the surgery will be hugely relieved by this announcement. It is just a pity she had to spend so much time out of her day job for so long trying to resolve this.”

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said he was pleased to reach an agreement with the practice to support their extension.

"The government’s funding formula for NHS expansion fails to provide this practice all the funding they need to grow so we’re pleased to be able to step in and plug the gap," he said. "The fact we have to do this underlines that while this CIL money goes some way to addressing the impacts of new housing developments, it falls well short of the funding needed to meet the infrastructure needs of the district.”

Louise Clarke, Director of Strategy and Transformation, for Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership said: "This investment is very much needed and this decision will help secure a purpose-built site that adapts to the changes expected in the local population. This is an example of how we can work in partnership to deliver services for our local communities fit for the future."

Anna Dixon, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Shipley constituency which includes Burley-in-Wharfedale, has also welcomed the news saying: ‘‘I have worked behind the scenes with the GP practice, councillors, developers and the NHS to urge them to find a solution. I am delighted with the announcement today that Bradford Council has reached an agreement with Grange Park Surgery to part fund the extension. It is now imperative that the NHS and other interested parties come to the table to ensure the expansion of the practice can proceed and building work can start.’’

Recently elected District Councillor Chris Steele, (Lab, Wharfedale) added: ‘‘I am aware of how cramped the current premises are. It is clear that more space is needed in order to take on more staff to see more patients. The practice’s plans for the extension were granted planning permission and it is great that Bradford Council have now also pledged funding to help realise these plans. With people set to move into new developments in the village imminently it is vital the building work can begin to ensure everyone can continue to enjoy high quality primary care services from our local GP practice.’’