FEARS have been raised that refusing permission for a new teenage mental health unit on a century-old cricket ground could force vulnerable young people out of the county for psychiatric care.

Last week, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Mental Health Trust narrowly won permission to build a 20-bed psychiatric unit on a two-and-a-half acre site at Warneford Hospital in Headington.

But the decision could be reversed after being called-in by councillors.

The application will now be heard again by the strategic development control committee tomorrow.

The trust was told if it did not start work on the project by March 31 it will lose £4.1m of Government funding for the £11m facility.

Health bosses fear teenagers will not be able to use the current 15-bed Highfield unit as it does not meet new Government requirements for single sex accommodation.

Youngsters could then be forced to make long journeys to London or Birmingham for psychiatric care.

Trust spokesman Emma Heath said: “One in 10 young people suffer from mental illness at some point, and if this vital facility cannot be provided in Oxford, our young people will be forced to go to Birmingham, London, or South-ampton for their care.”

“For them to recover, and live full, happy and healthy lives, we need to emphasise that a field used for cricket on a few occasions each summer cannot compare to meeting the needs of young people with mental health problems in excellent local facilities.”

The call-in has upset Barton and Sandhills councillor Patrick Murray, 29, who was treated for depression as an outpatient at Highfield as a teenager.

Mr Murray, who also spent six weeks at a mental health unit in Northampton at 17, said: “The provision of single bedrooms at a new unit would be a massive improvement on the Highfield.

“It’s hard to describe how much difference that little bit of private space is when you’re suffering from a very serious and personal illness.

“It gives space to reflect on things.

“After the election whoever wins there is going to be a massive deficit to cut nationally, and without being party political about this, I think it’s highly unlikely this project would be earmarked for funding.

“To not take this opportunity for a fantastic facility will put some of the most vulnerable young people in our community at risk.

“No-one should take the loss of green space lightly but we now have a legal agreement that ensures an increased financial contribution for another cricket pitch.”

A compromise plan to replace the Highfield unit was voted through by five votes to four at the north-east area committee a week ago.

The deal secured £200,000 of funding for a new cricket pitch.

Opponents argue the new unit should be built on the existing site with patients housed in other menthal health trust properties in the meantime.

However the trust claims it does not have other suitable properties.