AN eating disorder centre which no longer treats patients is costing Burnley Health Care Trust up to £15,000 a year because the building can't be sold until a dispute is solved with local health watchdogs.

The Community Health Council is not happy about the alternative provision for patients originally cared for at High Meadows in Colne Road, Reedley.

A meeting was convened to try to settle the impasse, but trust chief executive David Chew told a meeting of the board at Rossendale Hospital: "We have not got a conclusion to this situation." Finance director David Meakin also told the board High Meadows was costing between £10,000 to £15,000 in capital charges to remain empty.

And, at a meeting of the CHC at Burnley Town Hall, chairman Coun Frank Clifford said: "I do not believe the replacement service is meeting the needs of this group of people." He described visiting Gannow Lane on a Friday morning to be told the head of service was not around and no-one else was available. Coun Clifford added: "Had we been young girls or young lads needing guidance and help, we certainly wouldn't have got it because there was no-one there."

At the meeting chaired by Leigh Griffin, regional specialist commissioning manager, the CHC said they had visited the centre six times and found no therapeutic activity taking place. But Mr Chew said: "Our own figures show that only four sessions, 1.9 per cent, have had to be cancelled. I believe that was an acceptable performance for the service."