DOCTORS who are desperate to move from their "woefully inadequate" village surgery into a purpose-built building on green belt land outside York have been told to go back to the drawing board.

City of York councillors deferred a decision on an application by Elvington Medical Practice to build a single and two-storey surgery and car park next to Elvington Sports Club, in Elvington Lane, York.

Practice partner Dr David Lightwing said the current site was too small and he urged councillors to go against their officers' recommendation and approve the plan, improving medical provision in the village and allowing the sports club to upgrade its facilities.

He said: "We really are desperate to the point that we are thinking about erecting a Portakabin at the present time just to get us through the next few months."

He said the scheme was supported by Elvington Parish Council, ward councillor Rebecca Snowdon, Selby MP John Grogan, and local residents had sent him 130 letters of support.

Councillors, aware that the plans involved the loss of green space, but conscious of the benefit to the community, deferred their decision so that the architect and planning officers could look at alternative designs for the site, perhaps siting the building away from the road or turning the building through 90 degrees so there is less frontage.

Dr Lightwing said that other positions had been looked at, but there were concerns about security and the possible loss of sports land.

Councillor Steve Galloway said green belt plans were always difficult to make a decision on, but Dr Lightwing had made a very good case. He said: "If we give an indication that in principal we might be willing to allow some development here, perhaps further discussions could take place to see whether a less intrusive lay-out could be arrived at."

Coun Ann Reid agreed and said: "It would be better with a smaller frontage to the main road and perhaps the car parking could be revisited as well."

After the meeting Dr Lightwing said he was a little disappointed, but still optimistic that the plans could go ahead.

Updated: 12:25 Saturday, December 14, 2002