A FORMER psychiatric nurse at Burley-in-Wharfedale's Scalebor Park Hospital has condemned its planned sale as a 'criminal and insane act.'

Les Welbourne, of Peel Place, has voiced his disgust to the Secretary of State for Health and urged him to create a Wharfedale mental health centre on the site.

Mr Welbourne wants Frank Dobson to step in and prevent the site being bulldozed for development.

Village MP Chris Leslie, has promised to take up the matter with Mr Dobson.

The Burley-in-Wharfedale pensioner, who worked at Scalebor for more than 30 years, believes the site could provide the facilities needed to cope with the needs of the mentally ill.

He said: "I would suggest that Care in the Community has been a total disaster for some suffering with a mental illness.

"Many psychiatric hospitals have been closed prematurely, giving rise to patients being dumped into the community without adequate follow up facilities and supervision."

Mr Welbourne highlights the fact that some discharged patients are either in prison or sleeping rough on the streets.

"Many carers in the community are also finding it extremely difficult finding respite care for the ones they look after 24 hours a day," he said.

Mr Welbourne believes Scalebor Park offers a perfect solution to the provision for the mentally ill.

"Facilities consist of modern administration block, treatment unit (including dental, optical), occupational therapy, gymnasium, ballroom.

"In the beautiful grounds one can find a football and cricket pitch, bowling greens and tennis courts," he said.

Mr Welbourne said: "Would it not be sensible to combine all mental health services at Scalebor Park, including that of High Royds?"

He believes this is an ideal solution with High Royds at Menston due for closure in the next couple of years.

The site could also absorb the psychiatric unit at Airedale Hospital, with Scalebor offering patients the space and fresh air required.

He said: "In years to come land like that at Scalebor Park will be at a premium, but we are being told that for the sake of a few millions pounds it is no longer viable to keep a hospital."

The site owners, the Airedale NHS Trust, want to sell the existing buildings due the capital charges it is forced to pay each year - about £1 million.

York-based Persimmon Homes wants to use the site for housing - a prospect which is opposed by Bradford Council, Ilkley Parish Council and many villagers.

The UDP inspector recommended no new housing in the village until 2001 but the Trust is not happy with that prospect.

Both sides gathered at Ilkley Town Hall earlier this month to make their respective cases to DoE inspector John Gray.

Bradford Council argued any development would 'represent a sprawl of suburban development encroaching into open countryside beyond the limits of Burley-in-Wharfedale.'

The Trust/Persimmon Homes said proposals for 142 houses 'represent a definitive scheme which will both enhance the openness and the environmental qualities of the site'.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.