200 extra spaces in hospital car park

5:30pm Wednesday 3rd December 2008

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A NEW car park, built to ease notorious parking problems at Warrington Hospital, has been criticised for offering staff-only spaces.

But hospital bosses have defended the decision, saying that because the spaces are up a flight of stairs they are unsuitable for patient use.

“Because the new decks can only be accessed by steps we’ve moved our staff parking there and freed up the main car parks for more visitor and patient spaces,” said Mike Atkinson, head of patient services at the hospitals.

Former staff car parks, which are closer to the hospital than the new single-storey car park, have been transformed into patient parking areas.

The hospital invested £1.4m in the scheme, designed to improve access for patients and their visitors.

The extra deck of parking at the back of the site has added 137 spaces, and a further 72 spaces have been provided as the hospital has begun leasing land from the Basford’s site on Guardian Street.

The public car parks are at the front of the hospital, at the Lovely Lane entrance, outside the opthalmology centre, at Kendrick Wing, and outside the maternity ward, Croft Wing.

Staff are being urged not to use the public pay and display areas.

“The new spaces have made a big difference and congestion has eased,” added Mr Atkinson.

Further plans are to increase disabled parking spaces and create a drop-off area. There are concessions for regular visitors.