Car park works finally ease hospital traffic problems

MANAGERS at a hospital which has suffered traffic and parking issues yesterday said a new car park was already helping to solve the problems.

Building work has been taking place for several months in the grounds of Barnsley Hospital and the facility opened for a trial period beginning on Monday.

The hospital’s estates managers said around 300 new spaces had been created in the car park on Helensburgh Close which will allow patients and visitors easy access to the wards.

Residents who live around the hospital and people who visit the site for treatment have consistently complained about traffic and the need for more parking to ease congestion.

New traffic lights have been installed at the junction of Summer Lane and Pogmoor Road and the hospital said it was hoped that these improvements will ease traffic jams and parking troubles around the hospital.

The car park is open for limited hours for the next few weeks but it is expected that it will go into full time operation in early April.

The hospital secured planning permission late in 2008 to demolish out-of-date hospital accommodation and a disused nursery which created what staff said was a “much needed” extra car park.

Work has included demolition of buildings, and flattening and re-enforcing the ground to make it suitable for hundreds of vehicles. Barnsley Council has widened part of Pogmoor Road at its junction with Summer Lane and installed traffic lights.

Lorraine Christopher, head of estates and facilities at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted that this new facility has opened to improve visitor access, and we are working closely with the council to make sure traffic flows are improved around the hospital area.”