COUNCILLORS have given their support to plans for a £6.5m community hospital.

However, members of Barnard Castle Town Council have passed on several concerns about various aspects of the design of the Richardson Hospital.

The council felt the one-way system which was proposed for the access and exit from to the hospital was badly designed.

There were also concerns that there would not be enough parking provided at the new hospital, leading to people parking on residential streets.

The councillors felt the access road would interfere with the amenity of a resident of Victoria Road as it encircled her house.

Councillor Pam Grunwell said: "The design of the road system seems to be unfortunately using the property as a rather large roundabout or a traffic island. It's unfortunate that the planners can't find a way of using the land available to them in such a way to minimise that effect."

However, the design of the proposed building was praised.

The town mayor, Councillor John Watson said: "We welcome the enhanced facility and we've raised these concerns to tackle so that the end product is carried out in harmony."