CAMPAIGNERS fighting the decision to allow expansion at Bethlem Royal Hospital could be heading for disappointment.

Residents are pressing council officers to appeal the government inspector’s ruling which paves the way for the medium-secure Denis Hill Unit to become an 89-bed facility.

But although the planning inspector’s 30-page analysis is still being scrutinised by Bromley Council’s legal team, it is unlikely a High Court challenge will follow.

A council spokesman said: “The only basis on which an appeal can be made is if the decision itself has not followed the correct legal procedures.

“At first glance, there does not seem to be a legal basis from which to mount a challenge.” A two-week planning inquiry was held in April after the council turned down the original application last summer.

Residents reacted with outrage to last week’s ruling and believe it could open the floodgates for hospital bosses at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLAM) to push for further development on the site, in Monks Orchard Road.

A spokesman for the Campaign Against Bethlem Building Expansion accused SLAM of being “economical with the truth” at the inquiry.

He added: “I’m stunned by the appalling decision to allow the appeal.

“I don’t question the integrity of the inspector. However, too much consideration appears to have been given to national and regional strategies.” Councillor Rod Reed, who represents the area, called it a “scandal” and a spokesman for West Beckenham Residents’ Association said the inspec- tor dismissed residents’ fears as “unfounded”.

He added: “To permit the building of the unit means allowing people to live near us and our children that we would not normally allow. We are being used as a calculated risk.” A SLAM spokesman said the decision is good news for “the people who use our service and their carers”.

He said: “We’ll be able to improve the quality of care and the appeal ruling recognised this.”