AN outline planning application by the Cubitt practice to build a new GP surgery, dental surgery and pharmacy on land adjacent to Alton Community Hospital has been deferred pending a detailed report from the county survey on traffic implications.

Councillors at last week's meeting of East Hampshire District Council's north planning committee felt unable to reach a decision without seeing the results of a transport assessment, commissioned by Hampshire County Council.

The data will aim to ascertain the volume and impact on the surrounding road network of traffic which would be generated not only by the proposed new surgery complex but by the existing hospital and the 145 home residential development already agreed for the Treloar Hospital site.

The first upset came when several Alton councillors were barred from taking part in the debate because they were patients of the GPs concerned. Before leaving the chamber, Jerry Janes said he felt unhappy about having to declare a non-pecuniary interest. "Almost everybody in Alton belongs to a GP practice at Alton Health Centre. This ruling is simply disenfranchising people because they are registered with a doctor and this will apply to all Alton members," he said.

Local representative Stewart Glasgow began the debate by expressing fears that the development could overburden an already busy road network, especially during peak periods. "The volume of commuter traffic has increased along Whitedown Lane and in Butts Road, and everybody knows Butts bridge is a bottleneck," said Mr Glasgow.

He had been under the impression that, following the design brief, the Treloar Hospital site was to be developed as a whole and not piece meal, and was unhappy with the lack of traffic data available.

It was a point reiterated by Alton councillor Jim McKell who referred in addition to concerns over the siting of a pharmacy to serve the new surgery. While understanding the logic, he took issue over a planning policy statement which suggested that the pharmacy would not affect 'the vitality or viability" of other pharmacies in the town centre.

The fact that patients from one of the five main practices at Alton Health Centre would no longer be using the retail pharmacy in the town could not fail to have an impact, he said. "It is not an issue for refusal but it is common sense to realise that 20 per cent of potential customers will be locked into a handier on-site provider."

Dr John Happel (Ropley) pointed out that the change of location would mean that patients from rural areas who use the Cubitt practice would no longer have to go through the town, either for consultations or to pick up prescriptions, which would help to relieve traffic congestion.

Understanding the concerns relating to the traffic issues, chief planning office Ian Ellis agreed that it would be sensible to defer making a decision on the application pending further detailed response from the County Surveyor.

"You must be convinced that the development is not going to result in a worsening of the traffic situation," he said.