Newark Hospital car park extension plans approved by Newark and Sherwood District Council
Patients and visitors will benefit from better hospital access thanks to the approval of cark parking plans.
Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee have approved plans to extend the car park at Newark Hospital to alleviate issues with parking and traffic congestion in the area.
The car park will be constructed on the former Buffer Depot and Driving Test Centre site on Bowbridge Road, adjacent to the hospital.
It will comprise 80 parking spaces in two long rows, 16 electric vehicle charging points, with five of the spaces used for disabled parking.
The car park will be bordered by hedges and feature solar shelter canopies, fencing, a barrier, ticket machines and CCTV.
There are currently 170 pay and display spaces on the hospital site, in addition to 20 for blue badge-holders and seven for staff.
It is expected that many of the new spaces will be used by staff, freeing up the main carpark for visitors and forms part of a future proofing plan at Newark Hospital.
Ward member, Mathew Skinner, said: “This bring the land back into use that has been derelict for some time.
“It is very very welcome by the residents of Beacon ward and in particular those that reside in the Bowbridge Raod area.
“It goes without saying that it has been well documented by the NHS that when this would be completed, not only does it bring more car parking spaces to the hospital, when you have more care parking space you can deliver more services.
“When you deliver more services it is for the benefit of the town. People aren’t travelling, having to go to King’s Mill and that is absolutely needed.”
Laurence Goff, said: “I have to disagree on this. Bowbridge Road is a nightmare for everybody.
“I was down there the other day and traffic was a nightmare. There are too many cars on out small little roads.
“We need to get people onto bikes and our buses back into public use.”
Keith Walker, said: “I was at the hospital the other week and didn’t have anywhere to park.
“This will take cars off side streets and so will be beneficial for everybody.”
The plans were approved 13 votes to one.
