FEARS are growing about how firefighters, family doctors and schools will cope as more homes are built in the Holme Valley.

One practice of GPs may close its books to new patients because they are full, a meeting of South Huddersfield Primary Care NHS Trust was told.

And residents fear their safety may be at risk if the growth in housing is matched by a reduction in the number of firefighters.

The West Yorkshire Fire Authority plans to make Holmfirth fire station part-time.

Mr Malcolm Mallinson, of the Holme Valley Civic Society, told the meeting: "I can see there are going to be 1,000 more people living in Holmfirth and Kirkburton."

And a member of the public said: "There is going to be a 60-bed nursing home in the grounds of Holme Valley Memorial Hospital.

"What happens if there is a fire? It deeply concerns me."

The trust organises community medical care for patients and pays for hospital services.

Trust chairman John Chilton said: "Concerns have been expressed by other organisations in the Holme Valley about the rate that housing has progressed in the last five years.

"The infrastructure has to be examined across a whole range of services. We are only one of them.

"There is still a council debate about where houses are going to be build and how many.

"How fast that development needs to meet demand for housing will influence our planning.

"In broad terms, we can handle it. But if you look at some of the projections of housing in that area it is causing concern."

Margaret Dale, a non-executive director of the trust, said: "The council is looking at housing growth in isolation.

"They recognise the need to have growth in schools, but are not talking about transport and how to stitch together other services."

Clr David Payne, also a non-executive director, said the days of road building were over.

"This makes things more complex, because it involves not just the local authority but the passenger transport authority."

A member of the public said: "A GP practice at the Elmwood Health Centre at the hospital is at breaking point. They are ready to shut their list. Where are people going to find doctors with all these houses that are going to go up?"

It was pointed out that dentists would be in a similar position.

Mr Chilton said dentists would soon come under the trust.