Hopes of reopening a village’s only GP practice have been snuffed out, after plans were approved to redevelop it into a dental laboratory.

Councillors are calling for the urgent reinstatement of a surgery in Teynham, near Sittingbourne, saying it is “appalling” that nearly 7,000 people having to go further afield for basic medical services.

It comes as the village’s population looks to rise sharply, with the area being described as a “dumping ground” for new houses.

Teynham used to have two doctor’s surgeries, but the last of those, in London Road, shut in May last year.

It was hoped the NHS would buy the surgery following the retirement of the previous GP, Dr Kumar which saw some 3,000 patients forced to move to Memorial Hospital in Sittingbourne.

Residents complained the area would simply be unable to cope if the practice wasn’t reinstated following outline approval of plans for 300 new homes in Frognal Lane.

However, the practice was “too small” to pass CQC regulations according to Dr Lavan Nilan Sasikethan, known to patients as Dr Nilan.

In an open letter to villagers, Dr Nilan explained that he would not move back into the old building because it was not “a clinically safe or a viable option for our patients”.

Instead it was sold for £156,000 to PJH Ceramics.

Plans for the conversaion into a dental clinic were submitted to Swale council in June and were approved on Wednesday, October 11.

To see details of the scheme click here using the reference number: 23/503444/FULL

Cllr Julien Speed (Con), who represents Teynham & Lynsted on Swale council, welcomed PJH Ceramics to the village but said the situation regarding healthcare provision was “appalling”.

He added: “Six years ago, there were two GP surgeries based in Teynham but now we have none.

“There are 6,760 people in Teynham and Lynsted and this number is rising – so it’s appalling that we have no local GP, especially when we’re faced with never-ending applications for yet more houses to be built here.

“I had hoped the old London Road premises would be purchased to reinstate it as a surgery, seeing as it’s already laid out as one.”

However, Cllr Speed says he and Cllr Lloyd Bowen are “lobbying hard for the return of a GP surgery to Teynham”.

He added: “A couple of potential sites have been identified and we are liaising with the NHS, Swale planning officers and our two local MPs.

“I’m reasonably confident this will happen but it’s not going to happen in a hurry”.

The approved plans will see the current entrance replaced with two windows with the entrance moved to the rear of the surgery. This new entrance will be fitted with a roof light.

PJH Ceramics is a comprehensive crown, bridge and implant manufacturer and has been established for more than 30 years.

The laboratory will employ a small team of six people full-time, four of whom will be fully qualified dental technicians.

There will also be an apprentice and an administrator.