PLANS for a long-awaited new doctors' surgery in Dunster will go on public display next week at a special exhibition and patients' forum meeting.

GPs Ian Kelham and David Davies are keen to hear people's views on the plans, which will bring a host of new services to local residents.

As well as providing more space for day-to-day surgeries, the new building would allow medical staff to provide carer support, a heart advice and monitoring clinic, a chest advice and monitoring clinic, emotional health and well-being services, a leg ulcer clinic, a speech and language clinic, drug and alcohol services and an end fo life care support group.

A new dispensary would be provided alongside the surgery, there would also be dedicated parking and enough space for other health professionals to use the building as a base.

Dr Kelham said: "It is an exciting project and we look forward to the support of our patients in this move.

"We feel confident that we will be able to offer an excellent personalised service for all our patients from a modern purpose-built health centre of appropriate size for the population that we serve."

If everything goes according to plan, the new surgery would be built on land alongside the village recreation ground.

Dr Davies said the plot was the best possible choice for the new building.

"It gives us the best opportunity to provide the high quality premises necessary to deliver an excellent standard of care responsive to each individual patient's needs," Dr Davies said.

The plans, complete with architects drawings, have been submitted to Exmoor National Park Authority.

The doctors said they had worked closely with Challice Architects, NHS Somerset and the park authority to find a design that fitted sympathetically with its surroundings.

They said they had secured the support of Dunster Parish Council, the Crown Estate and Somerset County Council.

"With recent advances in GP service provision, it became clear that the current building in Park Street was too small and the surgery has been looking for a new home ever since.

"A search for a suitable site near the current location resulted in the choice of the proposed site just a few metres away on the edge of the recreation ground," Dr Kelham said.

The plans and architects drawings will be on display at an exhibition in Dunster Tithe Barn on Wednesday, December 12, from 1pm to 4pm.

The exhibition will be followed by a patient participation forum meeting chaired by Jim Kent, starting at 7.30pm.

"We are keen to hear people's views on the project and all members of the public will be welcome," Dr Davies said.

Anyone who would like to have their say but cannot attend the forum meeting can email the surgery directly via the 'contact us' page on the website http://www.dunsterandporlocksurgeries.co.uk">www.dunsterandporlocksurgeries.co.uk.

Alternatively, letters can be sent to: The Practice Manager, Dunster Surgery, 3 Park Street, Dunster, Minehead, TA24 6SR.