Surgery set to open

A new doctors’ surgery that had lain idle since July could open in days - thanks to intervention by the Chronicle.

Five thousand patients in Delph and surrounding villages were shocked when they discovered the multi-million pound new surgery could remain closed until January - because it would take that long for administrative procedures to allow BT to dig up the road and lay phone and IT cables.

After the Chronicle contacted BT a team was sent to the Gartside Street surgery to install a temporary cable. And today a BT spokesman confirmed the surgery was ready to open - possibly next week.

Work to install a permanent cable is now expected to take place on November 2 - the delay was to allow a 12 week minimum notice period for closure of the road, now waived by the council .