A SHAKY thumbs-up has been given to plans to build a £16 million community hospital and council headquarters in Selby.

Councillors voted narrowly to approve the scheme, which will involve building a combined hospital and civic centre building on the site of Selby War Memorial Hospital, in Doncaster Road.

In a heated debate at last night’s meeting of Selby District Council’s planning committee, Coun Steve Shaw-Wright even accused a planning officer of blackmail.

He made the accusation after Dylan Jones, head of development control, said he understood funding for the scheme would be withdrawn if the committee voted to defer its decision to enable the architects to redesign the building to give residents more privacy.

Coun Shaw-Wright said: “I think that’s absolutely appalling and disgusting and I’m going to discuss that outside this meeting with you and the chief executive because that’s blackmail.”

The new, state-of-the-art hospital, where 116 members of staff are expected to work, will contain 24 beds and 54 consulting rooms.

A 158-space car park will be built for hospital staff and visitors, while a further 93 car parking spaces will be built for the adjoining council building, where 241 staff will be employed.

Funding for the development has been earmarked by the Department of Health and Selby District Council.

The planning committee received an 82-strong petition against the scheme, along with 24 letters of objection, mainly from residents with concerns about privacy, noise and the design of the building.

One elderly local resident prompted cheers from the packed public gallery when she spoke out against the scheme in the meeting.

But vice chair, Coun James Deans, said the planning officers had left no stone unturned in meeting all the criteria.

“I think it’s high time we get on with this project and make progress with it,” he said.

Following two hours of officer reports, public speeches and councillor debate, five members of the committee voted against the plans, while six voted in favour.

Janet Probert, director of community and mental health services at NHS North Yorkshire and York, said after the meeting: “This new development secures the future of local hospital services in Selby and ensures people can access the care they need in first-rate facilities.”

Construction work is expected to start in spring 2010, with the aim of completing the project in 2011.