After a long and sustained campaign by community activists and individuals the people of Merkinch are finally getting their Doctors surgery.

Although negotiations are still ongoing, the earmarked site looks as though it will go ahead as planned.

The surgery, which will be situated in Abban Street, has been given the amber light for development, if not quite the green light.

Ian Addison, Primary Care Trust Accountant, said "It has been agreed in principle that the Abban Street land should go to the GP’s, and although the negotiations are still continuing we are all very positive at the moment. Basically, we are down to the nitty gritty, with a few t‘s to cross and a few i’s to dot." Mr Addison continued: "The site at Abban Street is ideal as far as the GP’s are concerned. It is fairly well situated for the people of Merkinch and Dalneigh, and also for people on their way into town."

It is expected that the work will get under way in the near future, once the legal side of things have been signed, sealed and delivered. At the moment the GP’s are in discussions with the Primary Care NHS Trust on what services will be available at the Abban Street surgery and assuming that all goes according to plan the schedule will be drawn up and the building work will commence. At the moment the land belongs to Albyn Housing and Scottish Housing who are said to be happy to sell the site on for development.