Plans for a new pharmacy in Wilsden were approved yesterday. The applicant had asked to develop the facility at Wilsden Medical Centre, Lingbob Court, in Wellington Road.

Councillors at the Keighley & Shipley Area Planning Panel meeting heard that the existing pharmacy in Main Street would relocate to the new premises.

In his recommendation for approval, planning officer Martyn Burke said the new property would be modest in size and would be very convenient for people using the medical centre.

He stressed that contrary to suggestions in an anonymous leaflet circulated in the village, the applicant had no plans to accommodate a needle exchange or a methadone dispensary in the new pharmacy.

The plans had met with 31 objections, including opposition from Wilsden and Harden parish councils. Wilsden parish councillor Tony Caunt said: “The claim that the new building will be more spacious than the current pharmacy is spurious, as the building in Main Street has a greater area of floor space. There is no public transport serving the health centre, therefore large numbers of patients and customers would have difficulty visiting the pharmacy.”

Applicant spokesman Tim Downs said: “The existing pharmacy is very small.”

The panel voted unanimously in favour of the application.

l Councillors also approved a retrospective application to change the use of a garage in Cross Roads to allow a hairdressing salon to operate. Mr Burke said the proposal related to a garage attached to a semi-detached house in Lawcliffe Crescent. There were nine objections, with concerns focusing on lack of parking and the creation of a business in a residential area.

The panel agreed to give permission, but with conditions to limit opening hours. Another condition stipulates that the business must operate by appointment, and can only deal with one client at a time.