IPSWICH Hospital today promised a decision on whether to build a multi-storey car park would be taken soon.Fears have been raised that the planned 465-space structure in nearby Pearson Road would be axed as a result of cost-cutting measures at the cash-strapped hospital.

IPSWICH Hospital today promised a decision on whether to build a multi-storey car park would be taken soon.

Fears have been raised that the planned 465-space structure in nearby Pearson Road would be axed as a result of cost-cutting measures at the cash-strapped hospital.

The issue is of particular importance to those living nearby who have been plagued by worsening parking problems in recent years.

Many claim staff, patients and visitors leave their cars in surrounding streets to avoid paying the daily charge.

And they fear scrapping the multi-storey car park, which would be for the use of staff, would exacerbate the problem.

Hospital spokeswoman Jan Rowsell said an on going parking review would be completed shortly, at which point a decision could be taken.

She continued: “We constantly review parking at the hospital to ensure it is safe and effective.

“No decision has been taken on whether to build the car park.

“But in the next couple of months we will need to be very clear in revealing what we are going to do.”

Permission to build the car park was granted at the same time as borough planners gave the thumbs up to the new Garrett Anderson Centre, which is currently under construction.

The building of centre, a multimillion pound treatment facility, has meant dozens of car parking spaces have already been lost and will increase the numbers of patients visiting the hospital.

Ms Rowsell said Ipswich Hospital's travel strategy has a mandate of discouraging the use of cars and promoting greener alternatives.

Is parking a problem where you live? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk