People living in Kingsdown have objected to proposals for helicopters on lifesaving missions to land on the roof of the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Plans for a £3-million landing pad on the roof of the Queen's building were announced in September to enable air ambulances to transport sick children and patients with serious heart problems to the hospital.

But Kingsdown residents have written to the council raising concerns about the impact of noise and vibration as flights make their way over their homes.

In response to the planning application, 16 comments have been made, either raising concerns or objecting to the proposed landing site.

The Kingsdown Conservation Group stopped short of objecting to the scheme after a public meeting where some of their concerns were dealt with, but did ask that a condition was set to prevent night flights and that work was carried out to make the appearance of the pad "less oppressive".

The biggest concern raised by people living in the area was that the noise and vibration of helicopters flying overhead would be unacceptable in a conservation area.

Residents also suggested the noise impact survey that had been carried out had not gone into enough depth.

Among the complaints was one from resident Christine Paz, who said: "I strongly object to this application and have difficulty believing that such a thing could possibly be granted in this location.

"Kingsdown is a residential area made up of many grade I and II listed buildings. The noise would be of an unacceptable level as would the associated vibration that comes with these aircraft."

Currently the only provision for helicopters to land in the Bristol area is at Frenchay Hospital, but plans are also in place for a heli-pad at the new Southmead site when it opens.

But University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UHBristol) is a regional specialist for heart treatment and caring for children, so a heli-pad is needed so the sickest patients can be transported to the site quickly.

The helicopter pad will enable air ambulances to fly patients for treatment at the new Bristol Heart Institute which is due to open in May and some of the sickest babies and youngsters to the Children's Hospital.

Aircraft will land on top of the BRI and patients will be transferred to the relevant department for their care by a dedicated lift, which is also included in the plans.

Danny Hopkins, of Great Western Air Ambulance, said Kingsdown residents should not be affected by the helicopter landing at the BRI.

"I think they are basing their views on the police helicopter, which hovers around", he said.

"This helicopter is one of the quietest in the country and will not be approaching or leaving the hospital via Kingsdown – they won't even know it is there.

"It takes two minutes to land and two minutes to leave and will access the pad from the city.

"There are facilities at the BRI and children's that are only available at the hospital, and potentially, putting someone in an ambulance and transferring 15 minutes by road could be a great risk to the patient. It could be the difference between survival or otherwise."

On average, the helicopter flies out to between two and four missions a day, five days a week, and so far has transported 20 patients to hospital by air a month, generally landing at Frenchay.

Andy Headdon, strategic development programme director at UHBristol, said computer simulation had been used to test the noise impact.The nearest residential house is 150 metres away and the helicopter pad is as far away as it can be.

"We have agreed with the operator that there will be a flight path that doesn't go over the residential area."

Bristol City Council planners have recommended the heli-pad should go ahead and a final decision is due to be made at a meeting tomorrow.