A battle has been fought for more than two years between town councillors and health chiefs over the future of Flint Community Hospital and the provision of a primary healthcare centre in the town.

The row began in 2006, when Flintshire Local Health Board suggested the closure of the hospital to make way for the new centre, which would contain no hospital beds, and repeated calls for it to remain open have been made ever since.

In August, town councillors agreed to submit a Freedom of Information request to the LHB, demanding transcripts of meetings of a project steering group, which was set up to plan the future of health facilities in Flint.

The information was released this month by LHB chief executive, Andrew Gunnion, and was discussed at a town council meeting on Monday.

Councillors said the notes released proved that the LHB was dragging its feet over the provision of healthcare facilities in the town, and that there was no evidence of the situation moving forward.

Cllr Ian Roberts, leader of Flint Town Council, said: "I believe that the people of Flint are being punished by the Local Health Board, because they are just not moving forward with any plans.

"Some of the health facilities in the town are grossly inadequate, and I would propose that we write to Andrew Gunnion and invite him to a meeting with us, at his convenience, so he can tell us how he plans to make progress with the development of the hopsital and a primary healthcare centre."

Cllr Alex Aldridge, who resigned from his position on the health board committee over the issue, said: "Buckley, Hope and Connah's Quay are all getting a primary healthcare centre, but where is the debate about Flint getting one?"

He added: "Sooner or later, I am determined that we will get the answers."

The town council agreed to write to Mr Gunnion immediately to invite him to an urgent meeting.