THE chronic problem of parking for Winchester hospital staff could be eased by a new proposal to extend park-and-ride.

The county council and health chiefs are discussing lengthening the park-and-ride bus route from the city centre to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

It would mean staff parking at Bar End and then catching buses through the city, up Romsey Road to the hospital, a distance of about one and a half miles.

The Daily Echo reported this week that the parking problem is so bad that regularly some of the 3,000 members of staff at the RHCH have to wait 30 minutes for parking spaces.

An estimated 76 per cent use their cars to drive to work despite efforts to persuade them to take public transport, cycle or walk.

Nick Richardson, a county transport planner, said discussions were taking place to try to tackle the problem.

He told the Winchester Movement and Access Panel: "We are looking at turning the buses around at the front entrance to the hospital. We are in discussions with them. We have yet to reach agreement.

"The hospital sees the advantages of trying to overcome its chronic parking problem," he added.

One major advantage for staff would be cheaper parking, although the inconvenience of the bus journey may deter many.

A hospital spokesman said: "We would love to see park-and-ride coming to the hospital. We welcome any development that allows people to get to hospital more easily by public transport."

Meanwhile, £200,000 is set to be spent on improvements along Romsey Road. A decision has yet to be made on some aspects, including traffic signals near the railway bridge.