A SUCCESSFUL NHS dentist practice could be forced to move out of the area if it is denied permission to expand.

The Bear Cross dental practice in Fulwood Avenue, Bournemouth currently looks after 12,000 residents and now urgently needs to relocate to larger and more accessible premises.

Moving from its current position in a parade of shops to an adjacent bungalow would allow it to cater for an additional 2,500 patients and is being backed by the Bournemouth and Poole NHS trust.

But council planners are objecting because the premises it is proposing to move to is residential.

Planners agree there is a need for more NHS dentists, but say local planning policies seek to protect existing homes.

In a report going before councillors tonight, planning officer Alexis Edwards said the surgery owners do not appear to have looked for alternative commercial premises.

And he said losing a family home would contradict Bournemouth's target of building thousands of new homes over the coming years.

Cllr Ben Grower, who represents Kinson South, said he understood why councillors were being recommended to refuse the application but he hoped to convince them to make an exception for this surgery.

"We cannot afford to lose the practice," he said.

"It's a very important practice that serves High Howe, West Howe and Bearwood, it is NHS and it has the support of the PCT.

"They have made great efforts to expand where they are but they have been unsuccessful.

"This is the last resort.

"Otherwise there is a strong possibility they might have to move outside the area and we just can't lose NHS dentists."

The Daily Echo contacted the dental surgeon Dr Oghabi Sajjadi but she does not want to comment until after the planning board meeting.