MUMS are holding a march in Chester as part of their campaign to rescue rejected plans for a new £2.6 million neonatal unit at the city’s hospital.

Niamh Hocking and Bethany Collings will lead the procession from the council offices on Nicholas Street to the Countess of Chester Hospital at 11am on Saturday, November 17.

They hope to send a clear message to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning committee that the new facility – funded through the Babygrow Appeal – is vital.

Committee members controversially rejected the plans earlier this month after one resident of Bache Hall Estate claimed the new single-storey unit would block sunlight to her garden.

Niamh and her fellow campaigners are hoping the Countess will be able to appeal against the decision or lodge amended plans that will be accepted by everyone.

She and Bethany said on their event page on Facebook: “As many of you are aware, the recent application for an extension to the countess of Chester neonatal unit was refused.

“Our campaign continues to try and have this extension accepted. It is a vital need and far outweighs the reasons for refusal which are the effects it may have on a local resident. This extension benefits an entire community.

“When something isn’t right, we have to stand together and fight for what is right. It is up to us to create a better future.”

More than 20,000 people have so far signed Niamh’s online change.org petition aimed at overturning the decision.

The date of the march was deliberately chosen to coincide with World Prematurity Day, which raises awareness of the problems associated with premature birth.

Niamh, whose son Jasper was born 11 weeks premature at the Countess, and Bethany added: “We will be marching from the Cheshire West and Chester Council to the Countess of Chester Hospital.

“We would like you to join us, to join this march and show the planning committee that the decision they have made is wrong.”

The vote at the meeting went down to the wire with chairman Cllr Gill Watson having to cast the deciding vote.

A passionate debate had ensued after Annemarie Jones, of Bache Hall Estate, claimed the new baby unit at the rear of the current women’s and children’s building would block sunlight to her back garden.

This would turn it into an “overshadowed, dank space” where she and her dogs “would not be able to enjoy the heat of the sun”, she said.

Given three minutes to address the committee, Mrs Jones outlined the “catastrophic impact” it would have on her property and garden.

“By blighting our property through this proposed construction not only would it have a negative impact on its market value but we will be deprived of direct natural sunlight,” she said.

“Furthermore, we will be completely overlooked by staff, patients and visitors not only from the existing maternity unit but also from the proposed neonatal unit resulting in a complete loss of privacy.

“I can’t imagine what looking at 11ft of block wall running the entire length of our garden will do, being overlooked by countless members of staff, patients and visitors and having our lovely, sunny garden turned into an overshadowed, dank space where we or our dogs would not be able to enjoy the heat of the sun.”

The existing neonatal unit was built in 1974 and is said to have become out-dated.

The new building would not only be packed with life-saving technology, it would also focus on providing space, privacy and as much comfort as possible for babies and their families.

Three possible sites were identified for the new unit, but bosses at the hospital said only the one that linked directly to the current maternity unit was workable.

Linda Fellowes, project director for women’s and children’s services at the Countess, told the planning committee: “There were three sites considered but none of these sites complied with the proximity for these very sick babies to be able to go from the delivery suite into neonatal care as required to support them.”

Businesswoman and mum Leila Bibby, who chaired the Babygrow Appeal committee and had twins on the unit, said: “This is the first unit in the country to be designed with family integrated care.

“The new unit will make such a difference to the parents and siblings and most importantly the babies who sometimes spend months in the unit being cared for.”

And the hospital’s Director of Nursing and Quality, Alison Kelly, added: “With exceptional facilities for patients and staff it will enable us to deliver the very best care for our patients and their families.”

Council leader Cllr Samantha Dixon said she had asked council officers to work with the hospital to address the resident’s concerns “so that an acceptable proposal can be brought back to the committee as soon as possible”.

The total cost of the proposed new unit is £2.6 million. Of this, £1.8 million would be gifted by the Countess charity to the NHS trust that runs the hospital with the remaining £600,000 having been spent on running the appeal and its associated costs.

The money was raised through the Babygrow Appeal over around five years. Major events in the city that have helped raise cash for the new unit include the Santa Dash, Duck Race, and MBNA Chester Marathon.