A PLANNING application to build a doctors' surgery and pharmacy on the site of a community hospital has been withdrawn.

The proposal was to create the medical services on the Shotley Bridge Hospital site, near Consett.

But members of Derwentside District Council's development control committee have been told the scheme is not going ahead after protests.

The Environment Agency raised concerns over drainage from the parking area and made various recommendations before approval could be given.

Northumbrian Water objected on the grounds it could create pollution.

A report to the committee said: "The sewage treatment works to which the foul flows has reached its design capacity and cannot accept the flows. An alternative means of disposal must be investigated. New discharges of foul and surface water must be on separate systems.

"Surface water discharge must be prevented from entering public surface water or combined sewers."

The plan had been earmarked for approval despite the objection, but members were not given the opportunity to debate the matter as it was withdrawn.

Health chiefs will now revise and resubmit the application if it is to go ahead.

A study to determine the long-term future of the existing community hospital at Shotley Bridge is taking place.

It will decide whether it is economically viable to keep the hospital open in the long term.

Consultancy firm Tribal is examining the work carried out there and how it may have to change in the light of a recent Government White Paper on community hospitals.

The report states that more services could be provided outside hospitals and closer to patients' homes in future.

The cost of carrying out the detailed project is thought to be about £25,000 and is being paid by the Derwentside Partnership.

The body is made up of Derwentside District Council, Durham County Council, the County Durham Primary Care Trust (PCT), the police, fire service, voluntary sector and the business community.