The residents held their own meeting yesterday with Dr Ash Labib, who practises at the surgery, and deputy mayor Bill McAnally after councillors passed a resolution in October not to commence certain upgrades until Dr Labib left.

Councillors voted to commence minor repairs but knocked back more expensive upgrades including new carpet and vinyl floor coverings worth more than $15,000.

A motion to seek cheaper quotes was also knocked back.

The residents believe animosity between council and Dr Labib is the cause of the inaction.

They also believe the

maintenance work is necessary for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) standards and failure to do it could see the surgery lose some of the services it offers.

“We think sentiment is getting in the road of good governance,” resident Craig Davies said.

“If we lose the accreditation he (Dr Labib) loses the ability to carry out certain procedures.”

“It makes it hard to attract, locums, student doctors and if Ash ever leaves it would be very hard to replace him,” Cr McAnally added

Council’s plan to seek $200,000 in funding to expand the Narromine medical centre while refusing to maintain the Trangie surgery does not sit well with Dave Carthy who was part of the original urban committee that saw the Trangie surgery established.

Mr Carthy believes council is obligated under law to carry out the repairs.

“They are very reluctant to spend money on it even though they are liable under OH&S,” he said.

According to the group the surgery’s carpet, which was lifted from the Trangie library and placed in the surgery when it was first built in the early 1970s, is against health regulations due to sterility issues.

“We have to go cap in hand whenever we want the most basic facilities,” Mr Davies said.