ULVERSTON Town Council has made a plea for an empty health unit to be brought back into use for patients.

Gill Rise, the former 20-bed dementia assessment building on Stanley Street, closed in 2012 when services were moved to Dane Garth, Barrow-in-Furness, following a consultation.

Town councillors discussed their concerns about the property's future at a recent meeting. Mayor of Ulverston Cllr Mark Wilson told the Gazette they wanted local people to benefit from the building, with its beds, kitchen and lounges.

"It's a resource that isn't being used," said Mr Wilson, adding that "one of the critical demands" on the NHS was "places to put people".

He said Gill Rise was ideally placed for healthcare being delivered locally through projects such as support groups for people with heart and lung problems. This would also tie in with Ulverston's hopes of achieving Healthy Town status, he said.

Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which owns the property, told the Gazette it had been "seeking to find an alternative use for the site, preferably for the use of health and care", even before the building closed.

"Although we have had interest from various parties which we had hoped would be successful, discussions have not resulted in a viable use for it," said a spokesperson.

"The health centre have recently approached us about using the building temporarily while the health centre is refurbished and we are in talks with NHS Property Services, who own the health centre, regarding this."

Gill Rise was built at the same time as Ulverston Health Centre next-door, and the boilers and utilities for both buildings are located at Gill Rise. The spokesperson said the heating remained on at Gill Rise to ensure it did not deteriorate, and the estimated cost was £1,000 per year.