A HOSPITAL wants to link up with Colchester’s new park and ride in a bid to ease parking problems ahead of a major expansion.

Colchester’s hospital trust is calling for buses to stop on the Northern Approach Road to help tackle parking problems at Colchester General Hospital.

Bosses have already held talks with highways chiefs about putting in a new bus stop to encourage staff and patients to leave their cars at the 1,000-space park and ride when it opens next September.

It has also set up a staff team to look at creating a new footpath linking the bus stop to the hospital.

A hospital trust spokesman said: “The trust has for many years encouraged staff, patients and visitors – wherever possible and practicable – to consider alternatives to using cars.

“At certain times, on certain days, it can be difficult to park at Colchester General, so this initiative has the potential to be an extremely positive development.

“Our understanding is the likely first stop from the park and ride to the town centre, via the extended Northern Approach Road, could be Colchester General Hospital.”

Martin Goss, Mile End ward councillor, said a solution was needed, particularly as the hospital has plans for a £38million revamp of its Turner Road site in the next five years.

Proposals include building a new radiotherapy centre and accommodating cancer services from Essex County Hospital. The £24million radiotherapy centre alone will allow the hospital to increase the number of treatments it offers by a third and see patients coming to Colchester from across mid and north-Essex.

Mr Goss said: “I think it’s a very positive move. The hospital is a key part of the community and as it will be expecting more staff and patients there, we don’t want people parking in residential streets, particularly as the hospital doesn’t have enough parking for staff and patients as it is.”

Residents in Kingswood Road, Wryneck Close and Lufkin Road have complained for years about problems caused by hospital staff, patients and visitors parking in their street and blocking driveways.

Some have even taken matters into their own hands and installed bollards in private bays.

Commenting on the hospital’s park and ride plans, John Atkins, 74, of Kingswood Road, said: “I would be in favour of anything which improved the problem.

“Unfortunately, too many hospital staff and visitors are incapable of reading the signs which we have now screwed to a wall, which say ‘No hospital parking’.

“I still think the most helpful thing would be to put in yellow lines, even if they were only down one side of the road.”

However, Doreen Lee, 81, of Kingswood Road, warned: “I can’t see them changing their behaviour.

“It’s too convenient for them and they would have to pay when money is tight at the moment.”

The £3.4million park and ride at Cuckoo Farm should be open by September next year.

Bus lanes will run from the site and along the new Northern Approach Road into Colchester town centre.