A DOCTOR is appealing for permission to build a security fence to keep vandals out of his medical centre.

Dr Ashwini Dave claims he urgently needs to step up security after a series of recent attacks on his St Helen's Road surgery culminated in an arson attack on Sunday night.

But an application to build fences around his premises was rejected by councillors earlier this year.

Dr Dave had already lodged a formal appeal against that decision before firebugs struck at the weekend.

As reported in the BEN firefighters managed to contain the fire to a wooden compound used to store bins at the rear of the surgery. But Dr Dave was assessing the cost of heat and smoke damage to guttering and the wall of the clinic. Dr Dave said: "We have had a lot of problems, but if we had a fence it would keep the place a lot safer. I don't understand why I'm not allowed to put up security on my own land."

He added: "We've even had them coming up and banging on the doors and windows during surgery times and we need some kind of deterrent before things get any worse."

Howard Barritt, Head of Planning Control at Bolton Council said: "Dr Dave submitted a planning application for fencing around the whole of the site, including a piece of open land near the surgery. "I am sure the application could be passed if Dr Dave compromised and submitted plans for fencing around the surgery only. Councillors felt that fencing around the open space was not visually attractive in that area."

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