MEETINGS to consult the public over controversial plans for a medical centre have been postponed.

The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) angered Wear Valley District Council by claiming that the authority had earmarked part of a recreation area in Tindale Crescent for the development site, claims which the council denied.

The trust at first resisted demands for the withdrawal of leaflets on which the claims were made and for the three meetings to be cancelled, calling off only the first at West Auckland last week.

However, last night it announced that two others, due to be held at Bishop Auckland tomorrow and Coundon next Tuesday, had been postponed.

The trust said it will not issue any more copies of the consultation leaflet, but a second version will be sent out when it has arranged new dates.

The Auckland Medical Group proposes to close surgeries at Coundon, St Helen Auckland and Cockton Hill and establish a purpose-built medical centre in the Bishop Auckland area.

A spokesperson for the council said: "The PCT and the Auckland Medical Group face some very difficult choices here, and we are very supportive of their efforts to maintain and improve local health services.

"The fact that they have cancelled these meetings shows that they are listening."