A plan of the proposed hospital site

Work on the hospital at Tremadog had been due to start next month, but Gwynedd council planners told the local NHS trust they preferred a slate roof to a metal one.

They say the site is also in a landscape conservation area and near to the national park.

But the trust and architects maintain a heavy slate roof will mean a redesign.

We hope we don't have to go back to the drawing board North West Wales NHS Trust

North West Wales NHS Trust was told officially about the new condition on 11 January.

"They (Gwynedd Council) have approved it (the application) subject to putting on a slate roof; our plans originally had a metal roof," said a trust spokesman.

"Clearly the design of the building doesn't support a slate roof."

Discussions

The trust said it has been in discussion with Gwynedd Council throughout the process.

"The metal is slate-coloured and the actual facing walls of the building have slate stone," he added.

The trust has asked the council to reconsider and a meeting about the hospital - called North Meirionnydd or East Dwyfor Hospital for the time being - will be held on Monday.

In a report, councillors have stated the roof needs to be of "a high standard of finish in the landscape."

The trust had chosen a building design with a lower pitched-roof to lessen the visual impact on the environment.

"If the local authority decide that they will insist on a slate roof, we would go back to the assembly and seek additional funds from them," added the spokesman.

"We hope we don't have to go back to the drawing board," he added.

Conditions

But a spokesman for Gwynedd Council said the condition that two of the roofs were to be slate was made last July.

He said that at a meeting on 3 Feburary, the trust raised the matter of the condition for the first time.

"Council officers have recommended that should the committee (on Feb 21) be willing to compromise on this matter that the condition regarding slates on the roof be restricted to only the front elevation facing the A487," a council spokesman said.

'Surprised'

A spokesman for architects Nightingales Associates, of Cardiff, said the design has always shown a metal roof.

He said there were not any guidelines regarding having a slate roof, because the hospital is not within the Snowdonia National Park.

"It wasn't something that was discussed at the early stages - we were slightly surpised when it came out," he said.

"We are trying to resolve the situation and we are doing everything we can," he added.

Nightingales Associates have worked on the �13.5m project for 18 months.