SERIOUS doubts about arrangements for the adaption of Skipton's Navigation House for people with learning disabilities were voiced last Thursday.

County councillors at the Craven Area Committee meeting said they wanted service chiefs to look again at the scheme to make sure plans met the latest standards for health, safety and dignity of clients and staff.

Navigation House, on Belmont Bridge, is intended as one of a few drop-in bases, which would replace the Snaygill Centre.

The use of Navigation House has proved controversial and early last week the county council's social services overview and scrutiny committee met to discuss the proposals. It concluded that one member would re-examine arrangements.

However, members of the Craven Area Committee, which met last Thursday, said they wanted to enforce the demand that it to be looked at again.

Coun Phil Barrett said: "I am not happy at all with the executive member just taking it away and going to reconsider it further because I have a real suspicion that anything will happen."

He demanded the matter be referred back to the county's social services overview and scrutiny committee and/or a working group be set up to examine the scheme.

He also asked that Snaygill Centre be kept open until Navigation House was up and running.

Coun Mike Doyle said he feared the plans were not up to scratch in the toilet and changing areas and he urged a rethink.

"My concern is that the health, safety and dignity of clients and staff is ensured at all times and I am sorry to say that when I saw the sketch plans for Navigation House I was horrified that they are talking of using portable hoists," he said.

County Care area group manager, Tony McIntyre, told members that Navigation House was still considered to be suitable and that staff on the ground had persuaded managers that it was right to go ahead with the site.