FEARS over dust contamination near a private hospital have failed to halt plans for a concrete plant to be built.

Work on the £8.1m hospital, at Morton Park, Darlington, began earlier this year, raising concerns from councillors about Tarmac Northern Limited's plans for a nearby site.

The company is planning to build and operate the ready mixed concrete plant on a one-acre site off Lingfield Way.

But, despite objections by councillors Gordon Plummer and David Lyonette, a tied vote at yesterday's meeting of Darlington Borough Council's planning committee failed to reject the scheme.

A subsequent vote went in favour of planning officers' recommendations to approve the plans.

They said the site was on the wrong type of estate, near car showrooms, food outlets and the hospital development, and the plant would be better suited to a more industrial area.

Coun Plummer said: "There are some other businesses which depend on a fairly dust- free environment."

Coun Lyonette also raised concern over whether the proposed access would be adequate for the traffic needed for the plant and moved for a vote to refuse the application.

He said this type of development would jeopardise the future of the business park.

Planning officers said the delivery and processing of the cement would be done in a protected and enclosed way.