ANIMAL-LOVERS in a York village could be set for a boost in the shape of its first centre for treating their sick pets.

The vacant site of a former estate agency in Dunnington could become a new veterinary clinic as one of the city’s long-standing practices aims to expand its operation in the area.

The Tower Veterinary Group – which already has branches in Fulford Road, Acomb, Heworth and Stillington – wants to take over the two-storey building left behind by the R M English Estate Agency in Common Road, which closed last November.

Agents acting for the practice have submitted a planning application to City of York Council and say that, if it is successful, it would mean Dunnington’s pet-owners no longer having to travel to Stamford Bridge or Pocklington to allow their animals to receive treatment.

“We want to provide something which Dunnington does not have at the moment, and from the feedback we have had, people had been asking whether we might look to open a practice there,” said Nick Howard, one of the partners of the group, which has been running since the 1950s and adopted its present name in 2000.

“An opportunity has now arisen at a good site with good parking and it seems a natural extension to what we already do in York. We will now have to wait and see what happens, but we are hopeful it will be approved as the building was formerly used for commercial purposes. We believe this is something Dunnington needs.”

A planning statement submitted to the council by town planning consultancy Raymond Barnes said: “The new Dunnington facility will provide a consultation and minor procedures service for small animals, in which neither general anaesthetic nor surgery would be involved.

“It will provide a local service complementary to other services and facilities in Dunnington, thereby reducing the need to travel out of the village to other locations. The proposal makes beneficial use of a vacant commercial property in a sustainable location, in that it would provide a service for the local community which is not currently available in Dunnington.”

The council’s planning committee is expected to decide whether the plans for the clinic go ahead at the start of June.