HEALTH bosses have welcomed news that a new dental surgery could be built in Great Harwood.

Developers working under the name ALH Developments, of Chorley, currently have a planning application lodged with Hyndburn Council for permission to build a new surgery in St Hubert's Street.

The local Primary Care Trust, the NHS body responsible for front-line health care including dental treatment, today revealed it had not been consulted on the move.

But David Rogers, assistant chief executive, said the NHS would work with any dental surgery to set up in the area.

He said: "The PCT welcomes the possibility of an increase in dental resources in the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley area, particularly those providing NHS dentistry.

"However, ALH Developments has not approached, nor been in discussion with, the PCT as the authority responsible for commissioning NHS dentistry in the area, about the proposal."

ALH Developments could not be contacted by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Coun Peter Clarke, Overton representative on Hyndburn Council, said: "There's a shortage of dentists everywhere. Great Harwood has two dentists at the moment, and I would welcome this."