Chelmsford councillors have given the go-ahead for a 76 bed mental Health unit on part of the Runwell Hospital site in spite of objections from neighbours about the proximity to their properties.

The borough council's planning committee heard on Monday the idea was to locate the unit, which will include 56 medium secure beds (for people who have been involved with the criminal justice system) on a site now occupied by staff housing.

It is planned to close the hospital in 2003, and develop a new 400 home "village" on the site, but, say applicants South Essex Mental Health and Community Care NHS Trust, a mental health unit needs to be retained.

Councillors were told nine letters of objection had been received from local residents.

And residents attended the meeting to put their fears in person, claiming that the unit could be accommodated elsewhere on the site. They asked if their safety could be guaranteed.

The Chief Executive of the NHS Trust, Patrick Geoghegan, said there had been a medium secure unit at Runwell for 15 years. A larger unit was needed because a significant number of Essex people with mental health needs had to be treated outside the county at present.

"The unit will have all the necessary security facilities as laid down by the government," he said. "I can guarantee people that everything will be put in place to make sure their safety and the safety of the local community is taken into account and also the safety of patients."

Local councillor Mrs Eileen Mickelborough said, "This unit is in the wrong place. It is too close to houses. There are other places on the site where it could go. I totally support what local people said."

Chairman, Cllr Andrew Johnston, "This is effectively re-locating a unit within an already established site. I cannot see any good planning reason for turning it down."

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