BROMLEY Council announced this week it has received more than 3,000 letters protesting against plans to expand a medium-secure unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital.

South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, which has submitted the plans, has been asked to provide extra information about the working of the Denis Hill Unit.

Residents' objections centre around a fear of increased crime, the effect on open land, concerns about traffic and conservation.

The trust has lodged material at the council offices stating the proposed 89-bed unit would not affect local crime rates and that it is normal for these units to be in residential areas.

Ward councillor Chris Phillips says he understands residents' fears and was concerned about security provision when he visited the site.

Cllr Phillips added: "The hospital has not demonstrated the necessity of encroaching further upon Metropolitan Open Land and has done little to allay the fears of local residents concerned about the risks inherent in housing murderers and violent unstable criminals in the vicinity of schools and suburbs."

A spokesman for South London and Maudsley NHS Trust said: "We do understand people have concerns and we're not dismissive of them.

"We have got a real need for these extra beds and we have a robust risk assessment process in place."

The spokesman added: "Nobody is granted leave until clinicians are happy with them.

"It's standard for medium-secure units to be in residential areas."

A final decision on the proposals to build the medium-secure unit will be made at a meeting of the Development Control Committee on July 23 at 7.30pm.

Material submitted by the trust is available to view at the planning and engineering reception, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close.

The timeline:

March: Hospital chiefs defend their decision to submit plans to expand the medium secure unit

April: Residents form the Campaign. Against Bethlem Building Expansion (CABBE) 600 pack a public meeting.

May: More than 1,000 demonstrators march through West Wickham in protest.

Bromley's development control committee allows some of the land at Bethlem to become a Major Developed Site in planning terms.

June: The Trust supplies more security information to the council.

July 23: A decision?

July 8, 2002 12:00