The saga of Greenwood Surgery could have come to an end after planning permission was granted for the facility to carry on operating from portable buildings for two years.

The move comes as a result of a rift between Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust and Dr John Cormack, who let the surgery building and worked there as a locum.

Angry residents spoke against the decision, claiming the original brief for South Woodham always precluded the use of portable buildings.

Representatives of the primary care trust said they had to make decisions fast after being given an ''ultimatum'' by Dr Cormack in February.

At a meeting on Tuesday night Chelmsford Borough Council's planning committee was told it had to make its decision on planning grounds only and not be ''adjudicator'' on any private dispute between the doctor and the trust.

Published Friday June 18, 2004

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