COUNCILlors have given the go-ahead for part of an historic hospital to be demolished, despite strong opposition.

Two outbuildings on the site of the former Mount maternity hospital in Northallerton are to be pulled down in a move objectors claim is 'demolition by neglect'.

The town's FT Construction Group was granted permission to raze the buildings to the ground at a meeting of Hambleton District Council's development control committee.

Government consent will still be required because The Mount is a listed building and there are currently no details of what is to be developed in the outbuildings place.

Planning officer Diane Baines said council officials had thought that removal of the outbuildings would not undermine the historic character of the main building.

She said the two buildings were based on Yafforth Road between The Mount proper and a new estate road serving a development of office accommodation, accessed off Standard Way.

Both have previously been used in connection with the hospital and a horticulture concern which formerly occupied part of the site. The outbuildings are listed because of their connection with The Mount.

The issue is a bone of contention in Northallerton and the present scheme has been scaled down from an earlier application.

Town mayor Jack Dobson said: "That was a bridge too far, people objected and it was withdrawn.

"The Mount was in use as a maternity hospital for Northallerton so many townspeople were born there and it means a lot to them."

In the early 1990s, the NHS spent about £200,000 refurbishing the building but in recent times The Mount has not had any specific use.

Some people have claimed the action is 'demolition by neglect.'

"The health service spent all that money on The Mount and here we are as it is today," said Coun Dobson. "This is an issue of an asset for the town."