Plans to build a much needed multi-storey car park at Stoke Mandeville Hospital are close to being approved.
A lack of car parking spaces at the hospital has sparked anger over the years with staff even being charged £20 a month in parking fees.
And local schools have also said staff being forced to park on residential roads was a potential danger to children’s lives.
It is hoped that the new 300-space car park will be approved at the next board meeting in March.
After the meeting on January 30 the trust said: “We are keen to move quickly with plans to provide additional parking capacity on the Stoke Mandeville Hospital site, including the development of a multi-storey car park.
“The board reinforced the need to expand parking provision with the development of a multi-storey car park and has established a sub-committee to develop further the fully costed outline business case for approval in March 2013.
“We understand the real difficulties experienced by patients and staff alike and want to reassure your readers that we are working hard with Bucks County Council and others to remedy this problem as quickly as possible.”
With a number of wards being shifted from Wycombe to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in recent months parking has become an even greater issue.
Director of property services, Ian Garlington, said at the board meeting that car parking for private vehicles was challenging.
An additional 100 car parking spaces are currently under construction at Stoke Mandeville.
He also added that despite awaiting approval for the multi-storey car park, the trust has included money from its budget for 2013/14 and 2014/15 towards the plans.