Local authority warns NHS trust of legal action over state of disused hospital

Wakefield Council has threatened a NHS trust with enforcement action over the state of a disused hospital.

The Clayton Hospital site has been unused since Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust moved three years ago.

Cllr Denise Jeffery, Wakefield’s Cabinet member for Economic Growth and Skills, said: “It is totally unacceptable for a publicly responsible body to allow this building to fall into such a dreadful and dangerous state.

“The site a now a blight on the city centre and on the community. It is devaluing the local area causing concern and upset for nearby residents. We simply cannot allow this to continue.

“We are asking the Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust for a meeting and will be seeking urgent assurance that this will be sorted out. We have also threatened to take enforcement action if it is not dealt with.

“Given the financial challenges faced by the NHS I would hope the Trust find a buyer for the site as quickly as possible, especially as it is located in a part of Wakefield with a high property value. This would undoubtedly financially benefit the Trust, as well as helping the local community and supporting the regeneration of the city.”

The NHS Trust’s general facilities manager, Iain Brodie, told the Wakefield Express: “We appreciate the concerns surrounding Clayton Hospital and we are doing all we can to make the site safe as possible.

“The ongoing schedule of works to secure the site has already included roofing works to the main tower, the installation of vehicle defence blocks, and substantial improvements to the landscape on both the Wentworth Street and Northgate side of the site.”

Brodie added that the trust was liaising with specialists and local partners, including the council, to see how security could be boosted and patrols increased at the weekends and in the evening.