13763/1PLANS by the only NHS dentist in Devizes to open a second practice for an extra 6,000 NHS patients look likely to be scuppered by Kennet District Council's planners.

Philippa Riseley-Prichard, owner of the Market Place Dental Practice, has been advised that her plans to convert the former Cook and Son butchers' shop in the High Street would not be supported by planning officers at Kennet.

Kennet's planning services manager, Ted Howles, said the shop is located in the prime shopping area of Devizes and believes it is unlikely that permission would be granted for a change of use.

Councillors, however, could ignore their officers' advice and agree it.

A petition has already been started by the Market Place Dental Practice in support of the new practice.

Miss Riseley-Prichard intends to submit a planning application as terms have been agreed to take on the lease of the shop.

The Market Place practice, which opened eight years ago, has 6,000 patients of which 98 per cent are treated on the NHS. It is the only dental practice in Devizes for NHS patients. The proposed new practice would take on another 6,000 NHS patients.

Janet Stobbart, manager of the Market Place Dental Practice, said: "Our patients are more than keen for us to expand and we get telephone calls every day from people wanting to get on to our NHS list. Our list is full and we have a waiting list.

"We are committed to providing NHS dentistry and Miss Riseley-Prichard is disappointed at the reaction she has got from the council for her plans."

Mrs Stobbart said if the practice was not allowed to convert the shop for a second dentists' practice it could jeopardise the future of the Market Place practice.

She said: "The practice is on the first floor and people have to climb stairs to get to it. It does not comply with disability legislation which comes into force this year.

"We want to open ground floor premises and the butchers' shop in the High Street is ideal. We have been looking for suitable central premises for three to four years and until now we have not found anywhere suitable or affordable."

Mrs Stobbart said converting the shop would cost £200,000. The practice has applied to the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust for £90,000 towards the cost and is confident it will be awarded the money. Miss Riseley-Prichard will pay the remainder of the cost.

The Market Place practice employs five dentists, seven dental nurses, a practice manager and a receptionist.

The proposed second practice would employ an additional dentist, a dentist trainee, a receptionist and two dental nurses.

Mrs Stobbart said: "An NHS dental practice is obviously a much needed facility in Devizes. We are amazed at the attitude of the council. They have even sent us a list of vacant business outlets. Yet they include what I consider to be prime retail sites in, for example, The Brittox, and the rent they are charging is more than we can afford.

"The funding from the PCT which we have applied for, and which we are sure we meet the criteria for, is a one-off and without an additional surgery it will be very difficult to expand."

Currently, there are 8,659 people in Devizes registered with NHS practices but unless they can sign up with the Market Place Practice, the only alternative is the dental access centre at the health clinic. Although priority is given to people in pain, the waiting list for routine treatment is presently six weeks. A spokesman for Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust said that the dentist who normally covered the Devizes dental access centre for five days a week has left and they have only managed to get cover for three days a week.