WORK is underway to relocate the landing pad for medical helicopters in Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital to a new spot in a conservation area.

Air ambulances will soon have to land on a grass patch by the Osler Road entrance to the Headington hospital instead of at the helipad at the West Wing.

This is a ‘temporary’ move, which is set to last two years, while contractors work on the exterior of the West Wing as part of a project to replace the building’s cladding.

A nearby resident, who wished to remain anonymous, spotted new markers for lights in the area last week.

They said that it is ‘totally inappropriate’ to place the helipad in a a conservation area and added that neighbours and a doctors’ surgery would be ‘seriously ‘affected by the loud noise.

The resident also pointed out that the loss of the green area was ‘unacceptable’.

They commented: “A chunk of the hospital land lies within the Headington Conservation Area.

“The hospital treats it as its rubbish space and uses it for car parking, dumping traffic bollards and barriers, and for running chippers every day, to process bits of trees from all over their site.

“These are industrial things that are all inappropriate uses for conservation area land.

“They are really bad neighbours.”

ALSO READ: 'Clever' car scam nearly loses elderly village couple £9,000

A spokesperson for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the hospital, confirmed residents’ suspicions about the helipad.

They said: “We take our responsibility to our neighbours and the conservation area seriously, and meet regularly with local residents to discuss issues they wish to raise.

“Work will begin later this year to progress our cladding replacement programme on the West Wing.

“To keep our contractors as well as other site users safe while work is ongoing on the building exterior, we need to relocate the helipad near the West Wing to the large grass area by the Osler Road entrance to the hospital.

ALSO READ: Man trapped unconscious in car after crash with tree

“This is our existing secondary helipad site.

“This project is in its early stages, and we will continue to speak with local residents to make sure they are kept informed throughout.”

ALSO READ: Fundraiser for family of nine-month-old baby fighting for his life

The spokesperson also added that improvement works would be carried out on the West Wing helipad while it is out of use.

Sam Foster, Chief Nursing Officer for the trust, said of the work: “We are grateful to our staff and local residents for their co-operation and patience during this project.

“We will work closely with people in the local area to make sure they are kept up-to-date and informed.”