A NEW car park extension with 252 spaces has opened at Salisbury District Hospital for patients, visitors and staff.

The extension to car parks eight and nine, at the back of the hospital, will relieve some of the pressure on existing car parks and help ensure that patients and visitors who need to park near clinics and wards are able to do so.

It should also stop people parking in dangerous areas, or in places that cause difficulties for other drivers.

Frank Harsent, chief executive, said: "Last year the trust saw over 140,000 outpatients and treated another 30,000 in

our Accident and Emergency Department.

"When you add these figures to the 42,000 or so people coming in for surgery and the 3,500 members of staff we have here, you start to get a realistic impression of the kind of pressure that has been placed on our existing car parks.

"That was why it was so important that we were successful with our planning application."

Throughout last year, Salisbury Health Care NHS Trust worked closely with the district council, outlining their needs and providing any details that were required in order to consider the application.

Mr Harsent said: "Now that we have the new car park we shall be looking to apply our car parking policy more strictly, to ensure staff and visitors park in their designated areas.

"We are aware that some people who needed to be close to clinics and wards have been unable to do so, because of a small minority who have been parking in the wrong areas.

"Of particular concern has been the area outside the front entrance and by Entrance B, where the bus has had difficulties getting around The Green."