COUNCILLORS are calling for a fresh search to find a site for an extra care complex to ensure Bedale does not lose out on a £12m investment for elderly and vulnerable people.

The refusal by Hambleton District Council’s planning committee of Broadacres proposal for an extra care complex at Queen Anne’s Drive was welcomed by the town council this week.

Councillor John Howe, who put the argument for the objectors at the planning meeting, said because the site was allocated in the local plan, officers had not looked elsewhere.

He added: “Now the plans have been refused they should get officers to carry on looking.”

Councillor John Noone said: “There have to be alternative sites. Part of the issue is location, but if we are saying a lot of people in there could possibly have physical difficulties, half of them won’t be coming into town because there will be a café and a hairdressers on site.

“It was a massive building, it was far too big, it was over development of that site, and I thought one of the major factors was how they could justify knocking down four bungalows which are some of the best social housing in the area. I don’t believe at a time when people are crying out you can justify knocking down houses like that.”

Scores of people objected to the plans, many concerned about the scale of the development and traffic issues with access off Firby Road, one of Bedale’s busiest and narrowest, which has two schools, a leisure centre, doctors’ surgery, wood yard and a lot of accommodation for elderly people.

Cllr Howe said it was difficult to argue the case on the traffic problems because the county council’s highways department didn’t have any objections and consultants brought in to examine the case did not uphold highway issues.

Broadacres said it was “very disappointed” at the decision to go against the planning officers’ recommendation of approval. A spokesman said: “We are now carefully considering the decision. All options remain open to us at this stage.”