UNCERTAINTY over the future of Stokesley Manor House and library was expressed this week, after claims that the building had been taken off the property market

Its sale or retention has consequences for library, elderly care and voluntary services throughout the district.

North Yorkshire County Council owns it and an adjoining property called The Bungalow. Despite its name, The Bungalow is quite large and is used by Stokesley and District Community Care Association whose services include lunch clubs, door-to-door minibuses; children's after-school clubs operate from there.

Earlier this year, the county council announced plans for a new £2.5m library and sheltered flats complex near Stokesley bus station. It would replace the Manor House library and Springfield House nursing home.

The care association understood its lease ended in 2005. But staff and volunteers raised a number of questions about the plan during this week's annual meeting.

Association chairman Kath Murray said: "If the Manor House has come off the market, we shall stay here until the county council decides what to do. It won't want to loose our rent but we are in a very unsatisfactory situation.

"They thought we would like a little office in the new complex. But we clearly could not let out any rooms, which generates income for us. And we couldn't do the luncheon club because the new complex will have a restaurant."

"Things are really tight. There does not appear to be a suitable property for us in Stokesley. In addition to helping elderly people, we want to work with youngsters, but children's noise would be an issue at the new complex. The county council was supposed to get back to us at the end of May and have it all in writing. Times are uncertain."

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