THE chairman of a Teesdale carers group whose future has been thrown into doubt has criticised the hospital trust that wants to sell its headquarters.

Last night, Teesdale District Council granted two applications for outline planning permission made by The Robert Taylor Richardson Trust, which wants to sell the site of the former Richardson Hospital, in Barnard Castle, to housing developers.

The trust also wants to sell the site of 35 Victoria Road in the town, currently occupied by Durham Dales Action for Carers (DDAC), an organisation that provides support to carers across Teesdale and Weardale.

While the trust says the sale of the site would raise money that could be ploughed back into patient care, DDAC argues that by granting permission, the area would be losing a service that saves the NHS millions of pounds a year.

Terry Willits, chairman of DDAC, said "It does seem that loopholes and limitations in the planning regulations tied the hands of the councillors, but they had no option but to pass the application.

"It is a real tragedy for community amenities that this valuable, historic site should be subject to demolition on such a flimsy basis."

Mr Willits said the only reason The Robert Taylor Richardson Trust was selling 35 Victoria Road was to meet a deficit in funds.

He said: "In the meeting, Councillor Richard Bell called what the trust are doing as 'asset stripping' and he is right."

Mr Willits said he had been in early discussions with parties about the possibility of providing an alternative base in the future.

In the planning meeting, Jenny Flynn, chairwoman of the Robert Taylor Richardson Trust, said: "We do have great sympathy for the group, but our duty as trustees is to obtain the best price possible for the facility.

"The reason for selling the property is that we really have no ability to look after a peripheral site once the hospital has been sold."

In his speech to the council, Mr Willits quoted Mr Richardson's will, which says: "The charity site shall be held for actual occupation for the purpose of the charity and not as an investment.