REFURBISHMENT plans at the Chase Community Hospital may have hit a snag this week after district planners were urged to reject extension proposals.

Planning permission was being sought from East Hampshire District Council for an extension to the north east corner of the existing hospital building in Conde Way.

The extension, measuring eight metres by 10 metres, would incorporate four new beds which forms part of an overall scheme to transform the existing MacIlwain Ward into a new-look 24-bed ward.

The new ward would be the home to intermediate and interim care beds for the local community.

However, in order to build the extension, nine trees, all of which have preservation orders on them, would have to be felled.

Negotiations have been ongoing to alter the scheme and planning officer Keith Oliver told The Herald that a revised scheme was possible, which would result in three trees being felled, and was preferable because it would limit the environmental impact.

He confirmed: "We have come up with a plan which would result in three trees being lost instead of nine."

But, he explained, health chiefs are reluctant to revise the scheme because of the extra expense and are instead hoping that councillors will give the original scheme a green light.

Despite their hopes, Mr Oliver was recommending to a north planning committee meeting last night (Thursday) that it refused to give the scheme the go-ahead.

His report said: "The arboricultural officer objects as the scheme would entail the loss of trees which are the subject to a tree preservation order.

"This would result both due to the physical removal of the trees to construct the extension, and the formation of a footpath to the side of the building.

"Although discussions have been held to minimise the amount of trees lost, the hospital wishes the original scheme to be considered due to the extra expense involved in an alternative scheme and the poor aspect which would result for patients."

He also reminded councillors of their statutory need to protect and preserve trees.

However, campaigners and health chiefs may have a reason to be optimistic and hope that councillors will ignore the recommendation.

In May 2000 councillors went against the advise of planning officers over the relocation of The Forest Surgery next to the Chase.

At the time officers were recommending that the plans be rejected because of the effect that the surgery would have on trees - 37 of which had to be chopped down.

But district councillors overturned the recommendation, arguing that the need for the doctor's surgery outweighed the detrimental environmental impact of the scheme.

On top of this, after a long and hard fight to save the ward from closure, some councillors may be reluctant to scupper the planning application which could delay the overall refurbishment proposals or push the cost up significantly.

Project manager Lisa Briggs told The Herald that she was hopeful that district councillors would see the merits of the proposals and grant planning permission.

She said: "North Hampshire Primary Care Trust hopes that the planning committee feels able to support its original scheme as this offers the best environment for patient. and has a minimal impact on the trees."

A second planning application, seeking permission to extend the car park had also been submitted to EHDC but has now been put on ice.

Project managers decided to withdraw the application because construction work on the extended car park, if granted, would have clashed with some of the refurbishment work for the Bordon hospital.

However once the vital works are done the application will be resubmitted.

Spokeswoman for the North Hampshire Primary Care Trust Emily Arbuthnot said: "Because of the complexities of the building work, and trying to make it all run smoothly, the car park plans will now form part of the third phase of the project instead of the second phase."

The North Hampshire Primary Care Trust, which runs the hospital, is hopeful that the Bordon hospital's new ward will officially open its doors on April 1 next year.