A new 61 bed  private hospital in Rhyl has been rejected by councillors.

Members of Denbighshire’s planning committee voted against giving planning permission to the proposals to turn the old council offices on Brighton Road in the town into a facility to treat patients with mental health illnesses.

The hospital would have had 61 beds in six wards covering a 4,118 square metre site.

Planning documents also said that the new hospital would help to create 150 jobs in the town for both ancillary and care staff.

But objections had been raised by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board saying there just wasn’t enough demand to justify the scale of the hospital as well as North Wales Police which was worried about a lack over security arrangements at the site.

And the council’s own planners objected on the grounds that it would mean a loss of office space for the town.

Speaking in favour of the plan, John Horden, an agent acting on behalf of the applicant, said: “It’s fair to say in Rhyl that large scale developments such as this are not necessarily required anymore. The report goes on to say the development would prejudice the ability of the area to meet a wide range of needs.”

He added: “It (the offices) has been vacant seen 2017. It has been offered for sale or lease and since then there have only been two enquiries, none of which were for offices.”

Rhyl East county councillor, Barry Mellor, argued against the plans.

He said: “A 61 bed, six ward bespoke hospital, four minutes walking time from the centre of Rhyl. There is a housing estate directly next door, one of the very few where you see children still playing out in the street. There’s a risk there from this type of building.

“We also have some lovely apartments across from this building which cost thousands to bring back into use.

“This application is just not in the right place.”

Members of the committee voted by 15 votes to one against granting planning permission.