A Yorkshire health trust has defended its plans to build a new £19m community hospital.

Critics have blasted the design, location and facilities at the new 30 bed hospital in Beverley, which is being opposed by Beverley Town Council, Beverley and District Civic Society and a number of local residents.

The town council labelled the hospital's design 'poor and lacking in character' and the civic society claimed the buildings architecture could affect the morale of patients, stating the landscaping had been 'dumbed down'.

The new hospital will replace the 36 beds at Hornsea Cottage Hospital, Beverley Westwood Hospital and Driffield's Alfred Bean Hospital. The facility will have 101 parking spaces for visitors and it is thought around 450 visitors a day will attend the hospital.

Facilities and services at the hospital will include an out patients department, a minor injuries and out of service unit. Patients will also have access to those working in physiotherapy and occupational therapy jobs. Speech and language therapists and specialists in cardiac rehabilitation will also work at the site.

NHS East Riding disputed the claims, stating the building would be of 'high quality.' According to the story in the Yorkshire Post, NHS East Riding said in a statement: "The new hospital will be a very important and beneficial development for the people of the East Riding of Yorkshire.

"Our plans to build a new £19m community hospital at Swinemoor Lane, Beverley have received strong support from local people who attended open events, NHS staff, the local MP and other local community representatives. The development is critical for our plans to bring more services out of larger hospitals and into the community."