Multi-million pound plans to build a new A&E unit at Airedale Hospital have been criticised

The hospital trust hopes the new, larger facility will help reduce waiting times – in the past year, the number of patients waiting at A&E more than four hours rose by 265 per cent.

It submitted a planning application to Bradford Council last month for the demolition of the existing A&E unit and construction of a much larger one in its place.

The cost of the new building has been estimated as being between £4 and £6 million.

But the plans have not been universally welcomed, and a number of the hospital’s neighbours have already written to the council to ask for the expansion to be refused.

David Parker, a resident of neighbouring Styveton Way, said: “The emergency sign is far too large and will impact on the surrounding area, especially when illuminated. The hospital is in a rural setting, not an inner-city shopping mall.”

Stephen Parkinson, from the same road, said: “We now find the plans to extend both upwards and outwards will affect our privacy even more, when we are already subjected to outbursts from drunk and disorderly patients.”

Steeton Parish Council has also criticised the application. A letter from the council to planning officers says: “The development will have a detrimental effect on the amenity of neighbouring residential properties, including noise caused by vehicle movements, staff and patients, exterior lighting and invasion of privacy, as homes are clearly visible from inside the A&E unit and onsite security cameras.”

Bradford Council aims to decide on the application by the end of September.