Plans for a second Winchester park and ride scheme are being put together by Hampshire County Council.

But frustrated motorists stuck in traffic jams approaching the city may find their prayers for a new park and ride go unanswered for several years.

The council is considering a site at Bushfield Camp, next to Badger Farm Road, two miles or so south of the city.

The land, leased to the Army until the 'Seventies, is owned by the Church of England, whose commissioners are unwilling to sell.

It is not the first time the land has been considered for this purpose.

Some six years ago, the city council drew up an ambitious scheme, which included submitting a bid for lottery funding to develop the site for recreational purposes.

* At that time, mention was also made of using part of the site for an additional park and ride facility.

Commenting on the latest proposals, a Church spokesman said: "We don't want to enter into a piecemeal arrangement where the land is sold off in small chunks.

"We would be happy to entertain a comprehensive development for the benefit of the community at Bushfield Camp.

County executive member for environment, Keith Estlin, believes the land acquisition issue means a second park and ride is not imminent. "It's very important that park and ride sites are large enough to be economical. In a year or two's time, we might be in a position to begin serious negotiations.

"I'd be very surprised if I saw a Bushfield park and ride enter service before 2008," he said.

County council officers are now preparing background papers on Bushfield Camp, which will be presented to members in the spring.

The business community is lobbying the council for increased park and ride capacity in Winchester.

Barbara Bryant, chief executive of the North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said this week: "We have consistently argued for the provision of park and ride in Winchester in the vicinity of Bushfield Camp.

"We see this as an essential step in giving Winchester full park and ride provision on each of its major arteries into the city."

The county is trying to expand the city's existing park and ride site at Bar End by 420 spaces. "This is likely to come before any development at Bushfield Camp," added Mr Estlin.

Planning permission was granted at Bar End in 1996, but the project has suffered setbacks.

The most recent delay came in November when the High Court ruled mitigation land to replace a wildflower meadow was unsuitable, breaching planning conditions.