UPDATED: Neighbours left 'dispirited' by secure hospital's expansion bid
PLANS to extend a secure hospital for mental health patients have been submitted to Derby City Council, to the concern of people living nearby.
Six extra patients could be cared for at Cygnet Hospital, in City Gate, off London Road, if the proposals are given the go-ahead.
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The Cygnet Hospital can currently accommodate 46 patients.
The hospital is a secure unit, which means patients are only allowed out with permission.
The site sparked controversy in 2009, when building work began on its creation without proper public consultation from Derby City Council.
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Under the latest plans, the first-floor extension is described as "infill", meaning the building would not increase in height or take up any more land.
Four more bedrooms and two bedsits would be added, and another car parking space would be created.
In its application to the city council, Cygnet Health Care Ltd says the plans would ensure residents could be placed in the "least restrictive environment most suitable to their needs as their health improves".
It also said the development would not affect the overall use of the site or "intensify the existing operation".
But Madeline Hackett, 68, of nearby Ellesmere Avenue, said she and her neighbours were "dispirited" by the news of the planned development. She lodged a complaint with the Government about the planning process behind the hospital during the original controversy.
Ms Hackett said: "I heard about it when a letter was pushed through my door. Speaking to the immediate neighbours, we're very demoralised about it – but we feel there's nothing we can do about it.
"We couldn't stop it being built before and we knew this was going to happen, so there doesn't seem much point in registering a complaint now.
"We didn't feel this was a suitable site for patients to recover in when it was first built and that's still the case. But we rehearsed all these arguments before, so what chance do we have of making changes now?"
At the moment, the hospital provides accommodation for 46 patients.
In April 2011, it opened to women for the first time – with the hospital manager explaining there were many Derbyshire women being treated outside the county because there were no hospital beds available for them.
Last April, the hospital received the national Investors in People Award for the way its staff are managed.
A spokesperson for Cygnet Hospital Derby said today:
“We are planning on extending the support we can offer people at Cygnet Hospital Derby, by creating four bedrooms and two apartments. We will be doing this by relocating an administration office, minimising inconvenience for local people.
“Cygnet Hospital Derby provides critical support for those requiring rehabilitation. We are proud of the work we do and have recently been shortlisted for two awards. There is currently a waiting list for our services, and we hope to be able to support more service users’ recoveries, particularly those whose families are in the Derby area.
“We take any concerns in the community very seriously, which is why we have written to members of the community and councillors, we believe it is vital that all people involved are kept up to date.
“We will work hard to minimise any potential disruptions to the community and we are looking forward to being able to support our service whilst creating new jobs in Derby.”
Comments
by asctty
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 7:28PM
“Janine2011 - 'I emailed Cygnet while this unit was still being built, an email I kept, in which I was told they would house sex offenders and they would be allowed out with supervision. When one did a runner from his carers it hit the papers and these carers were "not allowed" to prevent their charges from running offenders off.'
Was this relative to this particular unit, or somewhere else? I don't live next to the unit, but do work very near there. Having spoken to a number of 'local' residents since it opened, I understand that there have been no problems at all with any of the patients housed there except for one poor chap who managed to go to the pub and ended up in Long Eaton very scared.
Most of the residents I have spoken to are far more concerned with the drunks and druggies in the area who go unchecked by the authorities and pose a greater threat to the local school and residents in the area.
Campaign against this aspect of Wilmorton as opposed to the unit which serves a good purpose and has since opening caused no real issues other than those created by the NIMBYs.
In fact, have you asked if you can visit the place and see what they do? Given your vast experience of everything in life, perhaps you could even help out???”
by Anony_Mouse
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 3:31PM
“by make_redgreen
"Isn't Kingsway Mental Unit in Mickleover?"
No. Its just east of the boundry.”
by ianshelton
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 2:37PM
“Not when you speak to the estate agency ....”
by make_redgreen
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 1:47PM
“Isn't Kingsway Mental Unit in Mickleover?”
by ianshelton
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 1:22PM
“"by ianshelton
for reasons we can all appreciate it was never going to get dropped onto Allestree or Mickleover.
Are you forgetting that Mickleover had the Pastures mental hospital for over 100 years?"
.
Fair comment. Now imagine trying to re build it & re open it !!”
by EdDerby
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 1:13PM
“Have there been any issues with the current unit? It's been open a couple of years, which i think is a reasonable length of time to assess if it has a negative impact on nearby residents.”
by charlllpop
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 12:16PM
“I don't think half as many of these people would have complained had their neighbours asked for an extension. Mental health is one of the last stigmas and this does not help the people affected. Some of the world's best inventors, artists and thinkers had mental health issues - they aren't all 'loonies' wandering round with knives in their nighties.”
by janine2011
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 11:05AM
“It isn't the mentally ill I would be worried about but the sex offenders housed there that would worry me more. I emailed Cygnet while this unit was still being built, an email I kept, in which I was told they would house sex offenders and they would be allowed out with supervision. When one did a runner from his carers it hit the papers and these carers were "not allowed" to prevent their charges from running offenders off. Housing sex offenders in close proximity to a park and a primary school should never have been allowed.”
by ianshelton
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 11:01AM
“NIMBYism and discrimination against the mentally ill.
I can't see how this impacts on quality of life ; I live nearby, the place has no discernable impact whatsoever. Far quieter than the knocking around with old railway coaches that took place on the site years back.”
by Anony_Mouse
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 10:58AM
“by ianshelton
for reasons we can all appreciate it was never going to get dropped onto Allestree or Mickleover.
Are you forgetting that Mickleover had the Pastures mental hospital for over 100 years?”