More concerns about parking

AS well as Mr Carnall's concerns about the 465-space staff car park that was never built, the councillor is also worried that new plans for the hospital site will create even more parking misery.

AS well as Mr Carnall's concerns about the 465-space staff car park that was never built, the councillor is also worried that new plans for the hospital site will create even more parking misery.

Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust has been given the thumbs up for its £27million modernisation programme.

The scheme will see it build three new wards on the site, enabling it to close some of its wards at St Clement's Hospital in Foxhall Road.

Part of the proposal, which was given planning permission by Ipswich Borough Council's planning committee yesterday, will see Minsmere House at Ipswich Hospital demolished and made into car parking spaces.

There is a possibility of creating 192 spaces but only 74 of them will be provided initially.

Mr Carnall said: “I argued that the 192 should be provided before any building work takes place.

“The maximum amount of parking provision should be provided and this should have been a firm planning condition.

“Lots of local residents are suffering. People parking are on the roads, blocking drives and access for emergency vehicles so anything we can do to help is important.”

A spokesman for Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust said: “We have worked hard with the hospital on the transport and parking plans and are delighted that the planning committee has given to green light to our proposals.”

The trust now hopes to start work on the project in the New Year.