A TEESDALE youth worker has said he is "gutted" at the decision of a town council not to support plans for a £500,000 youth centre.

Barnard Castle Town Council has recommended that planning permission is refused for the youth facilities at Strathmore Road despite giving its support a few months earlier.

The centre would be operated by Teesdale Community Resources (TCR) and would replace its facilities at Birch Road.

Plans for the centre were first submitted in December.

At the time, the town council supported the plans but raised some concerns about the parking arrangements.

This week, the council was asked for its comments again as the proposed location of the centre has changed.

The council unanimously recommended that Teesdale District Council refuse the application on the grounds that it incorporated residential accommodation and the design was inappropriate to the area.

Councillor Eric Fell said: "I think the whole thing is out of character.

"If there's going to be living accommodation in that, then it's going to be out of place.

"It's residential accommodation in a non-residential area - it's totally out of place."

TCR's Education in the Community worker, Keith Jones, has said he is bemused by the decision, as the design is the same as the one originally submitted and there had only been a slight change in the location.

He said: "I have to say I'm totally gutted.

"It's alright being critical as long as it's constructive criticism.

"What options do they offer to ensure this project goes ahead for the benefit of people in the district?

"I know they don't have the final say, but I would have liked for them to show some support. I just hope the elected members on the district council approve it. I'd hate for this to be stopped just by a few comments."

He said the centre would not be used as living accommodation, but by groups of people visiting the area who needed an affordable place to stay.

The proposed centre would house four dormitories sleeping 20 people, a dance and performance space, offices, a lounge/dining room, kitchen, a music studio, a soundproof room, toilet, showers and garage space.