Hospital for animals is set to expand

Darlington Borough Council yesterday granted planning permission for The Grange Veterinary Hospital to relocate from Victoria Road to a new building at Morton Park, on the outskirts of town.

The animal hospital was one of the first in the country.

It was founded in the 1960s by Bentley-driving Darlington vet Denton Pette, who figured in the James Herriot novels as Granville Bennett.

The new facility will provide 24-hour care for all types of animals.

Hospital manager Karen May said the practice was expanding all the time and had outgrown the existing premises.

She said the new hospital would be a fitting tribute to Mr Pette and his vision of hospital care for animals.

"The old hospital is difficult to work in, with limited access and tricky parking. Denton was a real innovator and would have moved on before now," she said.

Work is expected to start next month, with the hospital operational in a year.

The 3,500 sq ft, two storey facility, will feature consultation rooms, twin operating theatres, a dental suite, separate wards for cats, dogs, rabbits and exotic pets, and a laboratory facility.

There will also be x-ray facilities, a dark room and a dispensary, as well as a study area for the training of veterinary nurses and an extensive car park.

Practice partner Peter Ehrlich said: "The decision to relocate has been a hard one.

"For more than 80 years the building in Victoria Road has served the pets and clients of County Durham. We have to look to the future and we feel everyone deserves the most modern premises we can provide.

"Our aim is to preserve the caring service and friendly atmosphere and enhance it with a purpose-built facility designed around the staff, clients and animals."

Planning permission was granted subject to there being no objections to the move before February 20, plus a number of conditions imposed, including the provision of a cycle park.