MORE than 1,200 people have had their say over plans for a new multi-storey car park at Airedale Hospital.

The facility is proposed as part of the preparatory process for a new, state-of-the-art hospital on the Steeton site.

It would help provide parking for patients, visitors and staff whilst the replacement hospital is being built.

Groups and individuals took part in the public consultation.

As well as views being sought online, there was a series of focus groups and interviews.

Feedback was provided about current parking at the site, as well as what people wanted from the new facility.

Key themes included:

* Ensuring there are enough spaces, as people accessing the hospital by car often found it difficult to park

* Making sure there are adequate accessible parking spaces for people with mobility issues, parents and carers

* The impact on residents of people using or working at the hospital who park in neighbouring streets

* The need for bigger spaces and the importance of being able to easily manoeuvre around the multi-storey

* Wanting the look and feel of the car park to fit with the rural surroundings and the importance of retaining green space and trees

* The need to ensure that the payment system is easy to use, and concerns about the cost of parking, particularly for frequent visitors

Foluke Ajayi, chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, says: "We are really grateful for the time people took to give us their feedback, so a big 'thank you' to everyone who got involved in this important process.

"All your views will be fed into the design process to help make the car park as user-friendly as possible and to inform the look of the building. We will be sharing the plans once they are ready and giving people another chance to have their say before we submit a planning application to Bradford Council early next year.

"These are exciting times, as next year will see the reality of our new hospital start to take shape. Getting the site ready will include the multi-storey car park plans and other important works such as a power substation and additional access road."

The car parking survey report can be read in full at airedale-trust.nhs.uk/about-us/securing-the-future-of-airedale/car-parking

Airedale Hospital, largely constructed using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete which was found to have a lifespan of 30 years, is scheduled for replacement by 2030.