Cork city residents have appealed a local council decision to grant planning permission to a €250 million private hospital at Cork University Hospital (CHU), Wilton.

Residents have claimed the proposed 185-bed hospital would further aggravate traffic congestion in the local area.

Planning permission was granted last Thursday for the Beacon Medical Group plans despite 140 objections from residents. The majority cited traffic gridlock as the most contentious factor but other objections related to waste management, subsidence and lighting.

Additional concerns have been expressed regarding the scale and density of the project in an "already overcrowded medical campus".

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Cork South-Central Fine Gael TD Simon Coveney told the Irish Times: "Certainly the concept of putting this new very large hospital in an overcrowded CUH site is something we are against. I simply find it difficult to see how the planners can justify granting planning permission."

He added: " Unfortunately, the way An Bord Pleanála is set up (it is the case that) often, their remit to implement Government policy makes it very difficult for objectors to be successful."

However, Beacon Medical Group have stated their commitment to working with local residents and politicians in Wilton and Bishopstown to implement traffic alleviation measures at the campus.

The planning permission was granted under the Governments co-location scheme but just three of the letters of opposition made reference to this policy. The Government hope to have the co-location at eight hospitals claiming that the scheme will help release public hospital beds used by private patients.

Critics claim this will just reinforce the two-tier Irish healthcare system.

(VB)