A mental health hospital near Leek is planning to expand with a wing for women with severe challenging behaviours.
John Munroe Independent Hospital in Rudyard, has submitted plans to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to build a single-storey wing.
The hospital treats patients with conditions such as schizophrenia and people with a history of complex psychological and emotional traumas.
The application for the extension is expected to be approved at the council’s planning committee meeting on Thursday, April 14.
Plans for the development include five en-suite bedrooms, a shower room, assisted bathroom, dining room and lounge area.
The plans for the hospital on Radcliffe Road has raised concerns among residents.
They have sent in letters and emails of objection and claim there have been two cases of patients being found outside the hospital grounds this year.
Neighbour Derek Smith said: “I saw three female nurses running through the wood beside the school. I told them I had not seen the escapee.
“One nurse said that she is a frequent absconder who always runs down the road towards Rudyard but this time there is no sign of her.
“The nurses confirmed that she was a female, dressed in purple, and was no harm to anyone.
“With that, the headteacher of Horton St Michael’s came out of the school and talked to the nurses.”
Dannielle Birch, who lives nearby, added: “As a result of the increasing size of the hospital, the area is becoming less peaceful.
“If this hospital is approved further planning permission, I will be leaving the area.”
There are also fears that the proposed development will be a threat to green belt land.
Resident Gillian Hiom said: “The openness of the green space on the hospital grounds has been reduced year on year.
“The extension would further reduce openness and would increase this already enormous facility.
“It is vital to preserve the integrity and character of Rudyard.”
Horton Parish Council has said councillors do not feel that the property should be increased in size any further, as it is near two schools and residents homes.
Horton St Michael’s CE First School is one of the two schools nearby.
Helen Stead, chair of governors, said: “We continue to have safeguarding concerns for the safety of our pupils.
“On some occasions, patients who have escaped from the site have been found within our school grounds, in areas where our children play.
“It appears that the John Munroe Hospital cannot guarantee the absence of risk to our pupils.”
The John Munroe Group provides over 70 beds across their two locations, Rudyard, and at the Edith Shaw Hospital in Leek.
A spokeswoman for the Care Quality Commission, which runs the John Munroe Group, said she was not able to comment on the proposals until the outcome of the meeting, but added: “We will inspect any new services in due course, as we would with any services registered with us.”
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