Edited Story Idea - Harrogate Hospital Car park expantion

HARROGATE Hospital is also building a two-storey car park as well as the new cancer centre.

Harrogate Committee made the decision about the two-storey car park, after debating the effect it would have on local residents and visitors to the hospital. It was passed by 11 votes to two, with two abstentions.

Philip Hopper, whose home is on Lancaster Park Road, and overlooks the hospital, commented "Lancaster Road is always busy. The local bus even stopped as it could not get through all the traffic." He feels that the council should focus on making the hospital more accessible from the road, rather than making more parking spaces.

The council assured local residents that the two-storey car park was the best plan out of 16.

A spokesman for the council said they are creating a travel route around the hospital, which would encourage staff, patients and visitors to walk, cycle or use public transport to access the hospital and hopefully reduce the traffic on Lancaster Park Road.

"The hospital has always been in need of more parking spaces. The parking facilities at the moment are not adequate for the number of visitors the hospital has, and the staff parking is always full to capacity." commented Dr.Potter, 42, a surgeon at Harrogate Hospital. "The additional car park is being welcomed by both staff and hospital visitors alike, and should reduce the stress created by the current parking."

ᴥ Does Harrogate Hospital need a new car park? How does the traffic around the hospital effect you? Write a letter to the edi