HOSPITAL bosses are spending £200,000 to create 170 more car parking spaces.

The move is aimed at stemming public criticism about parking problems at the Royal Bolton Hospital site.

The new spaces are being created next to Redgate Way - the main road through the hospital site - and should be available from June.

The plan is to re-direct staff to the new spaces, freeing more paid-for places next to H, J and K wards for patients and visitors. work started almost three weeks ago.

Beverley Andrew, Director of Operations with Bolton Hospitals NHs Trust, said: "While we recognise the public gets frustrated by what they imagine to be a lack of investment we have increased significantly the number of places available.

"Before the transfer of services on to the Royal Bolton site there were approximately 1,000 car parking spaces available. Now there are 1,570.

"This issue raises a dilemma with the hospital. While we recognise the very real need for more car parking spaces because of an increase in the number of people using the hospital, we are also conscious of the environmental effects of traffic pollution.

"But until there is a change in the Government's policy we shall continue to work to ease the public's frustration," she added.

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