A county councillor has criticised the possible closure of a doctor's surgery in Costessey, warning it could heap pressure on other health services and leave people without easy access to a GP.

The Beechcroft Surgery, in Beechcroft, New Costessey, announced at the weekend that it was beginning 90 days of consultation over its possible closure.

The surgery issued a public notice which announced the consultation and which included details of a public meeting next month where people will be ablet to discuss the possible closure.

A spokeswoman for Beechcroft Surgery said a partner had left in December and another would be leaving in June, which left the practice with only six partners.

She said: 'The remaining partners are looking at options for the future of the practice and an application to close Beechcroft will be made to the Primary Care Trust this week, but no closure will take place until patients have been consulted.'

But councillor Tim East, who represents Costessey on Norfolk County Council and South Norfolk Council, said he was worried that the closure could leave people without easy access to care, especially with so many new homes earmarked for the area in the years ahead.

Mr East, who said the announcement of the possible closure came completely out of the blue at the weekend, said: 'Costessey is a growing area. There is a proposal for another 1,000 homes to be built in the next few years.

'This is in addition to the Queens Hills development, which will ultimately have 2,250 homes on the site and the new Lodge Farm estate which already has 500 homes and 500 more under proposals for phase two.

'The Greater Norwich Development Partnership is also suggesting an extra 2,000 homes for Three Score in Bowthorpe, which is separated from Costessey only by the width of Dereham Road.

Last year, the new Roundwell Medical Centre opened on the corner of Longwater Lane and Dereham Road in Costessey. That saw the Costessey Medical Practice close its sites in Longwater Lane, Old Costessey and Valley Road, New Costessey to move to the new complex.

But Mr East said he was not convinced that centre would be able to cope with the demand which would be placed on it if Beechcroft were to close.

He said: 'I am very concerned about the future healthcare provision in this burgeoning community, which, by 2015, will have a population of more than 15,000. The projected demography for the area does not suggest the closure of any surgery would be warranted given the growth predicted for Costessey over the next five years.'

The public meeting over the future of the surgery will take place at the Costessey Centre in Longwater Lane at 3pm on Thursday, March 1.

Mr East also plans to raise the issue at tonight's meeting of Costessey Parish Council, although a full debate is unlikely to happen until next month's meeting.

He has also requested that Norfolk County Council's health overview and scrutiny committee investigate.

• Do you have a health story? Call Evening News health reporter Kim Briscoe on 01603 772419 or email kim.briscoe@archant.co.uk