A HOSPITAL which has been contravening planning laws for the last six years by using an emergency-only entrance to receive deliveries will be told tomorrow if it can continue.

Although three residents have objected to Darlington Memorial Hospital's bid to get planning permission to use its Elms Road Entrance for the replenishment of oxygen tanks, officers have recommended plans get the go ahead.

Deliveries of oxygen have been taken by the hospital through the entrance for the past six years.

Residents' concerns include dangers to pedestrians, particularly children attending the nearby George Dent Nursery; problems caused by congestion; and the damage to the road caused by the heavy good vehicles.

There was also worries the non-emergency access would lead to other non-emergency vehicles and members of the public using the entrance to access the hospital.

But highways officers said they felt vehicles carrying oxygen would be able to use the entrance without causing problems in the road.

The three-axle rigid bodied delivery vehicle weighs 26 tones when fully loaded and visits the compound every week between 9am and 5pm.

Drivers access the locked gate with a key.

A report, which will go before the planning committee tomorrow, said: "The council's highways engineer has stated that vehicles are able to turn within the grounds of the hospital and therefore there would be no requirements for vehicles to turn in Elms Road itself.

"There are parking restrictions in place on Elms Road that should prevent any obstruction of the access."

The planning committee meets at 1.30pm in the town hall.