COUNCIL chiefs gave the go-ahead yesterday for part of an historic hospital to be demolished, despite strong opposition.

Two outbuildings on the site of the former Mount maternity hospital, in Northall-erton, are to be pulled down in a move objectors claim is "demolition by neglect".

The town's FT Construction Group was granted permission to raze the buildings at a meeting of Hambleton District Council's development control committee.

However, Government consent will still be required because the Mount is a listed building and there are currently no details available of what is to be developed in place of the outbuildings.

Planning officer Diane Baines said council officials had felt that removal of the outbuildings would not undermine the historic character of the main building.

She said the two buildings were based on Yafforth Road, between The Mount proper and a new estate road serving a development of office accommodation, accessed off Standard Way. Both had previously been used in connection with the hospital and a horticulture business which formerly occupied part of the site.

The outbuildings are listed because of their historical connection with The Mount.

The problem of what to do with the buildings has caused anger in Northallerton and the present scheme has been scaled down from an earlier application.

"That was a bridge too far, people objected and it was withdrawn," said town mayor Jack Dobson.

"The Mount was in use as a maternity hospital for Northallerton, so many townspeople were born there and it means a lot to them."

In the early 1990s, the NHS spent about £200,000 refurbishing the building but in recent times The Mount has not had any specific use. Some people have claimed the action is 'demolition by neglect' because if the buildings had been cared for they would not need to be pulled down.

"The health service spent all that money on The Mount and here we are as it is today," said Coun Dobson. "This is an issue of an asset for the town."