PLANS to increase car parking at Worcestershire Royal Hospital by almost 300 spaces have been revealed.

But, as the Evening News reported last month, pay and display charges are also set to increase dramatically to try and reduce parking chaos.

The cost of parking for four hours at the hospital will double, from £1 to £2.

The proposals follow constant parking problems since the hospital opened in March 2002.

The extra 289 spaces will be created in three ways:

- The introduction of a one-way system, creating 48 spaces. Traffic will flow anti-clockwise around the hospital, entering from the Woodgreen Road roundabout. The work is due to be completed by Monday, June 30.

- The development of an additional 101 spaces in the existing car parks. Plants and pay and display machines that take up spaces will be moved. Clamping will also be introduced for illegal parking in disabled bays. The work should be completed by Thursday, July 31.

- The south staff car park will be extended by 140 spaces, with the motorbike bay being turned into a car park. Work should be completed by Tuesday, September 30.

The proposals will raise parking capacity from 1,202 spaces to 1,491.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said 250 cars now had to park at the old Ronkswood hospital, while about 100 cars parked illegally on the Worcestershire Royal site.

But Coun Mike Layland said that, although he welcomed the additional parking, he felt the car park would be too small.

"They are trying to fit too much in to too small a space. They should have got this right before they opened the hospital.

"I also thinks it's terrible that patients are going to be charged to park."

Richard Haynes, spokesman for the trust, said he hoped the new measures would alleviate the problems.

"There are various measures in place and these plans are part of our efforts to improve parking for staff and patients."

The new parking charges are: Up to two hours - £1. Two to four hours - £2. Four to six hours - £3. Six to 24 hours - £5.

The existing charges are: Up to four hours - £1. Four to eight hours - £2. Eight to 24 hours - £3.