A FOUR-storey building at Newtown - which health chiefs hope to keep after the new Worcestershire hospital is opened - faces an uncertain future after opposition from Worcester councillors.

The Health Trust has applied to keep the elderly care block for administration, and still provide additional parking for the new Worcestershire Royal Hospital at the Newtown Road site.

Although city councillors say they do not want to get rid of the building, some are opposed to the plans for the additional car parking.

Principal planning officer Peter Yates told members of the planning committee, which met last week, that both the landscaping and tree protection officers were concerned about the impact of parking spaces on the Turkey oak tree beside the new residential block on the site.

He added the Ronkswood Action Group remained concerned there would not be enough parking spaces and visitors would use surrounding streets.

Mr Yates told committee members the plan was an improvement on the application put forward last month, and said officers believed 1,322 proposed spaces for the new hospital was adequate and could be achieved on the site.

But some councillors agreed the plan did not provide enough parking spaces and would damage the landscape.

"I'm sick and tired of this piecemeal attitude shown to us by the Trust," said Coun Mike Layland.

"Let's force them to come up with something more suitable.

"The answer to this is a multi-storey car park. Surely £2m could be found to build a multi-storey and if they charge 50p to park there I think residents would accept that."

Coun Hope Rowden said: "It's vital to have adequate parking.

"This is a hospital for Worcestershire and it serves rural areas where there's little public transport. But we'd have to wait to build a multi-storey and we can't wait two or three years."

Although councillors did not reach a final decision at the meeting, they voted to be minded to reject the plan when it was considered at the next meeting in January.

If the council does reject the plan the elderly care block must be demolished nine months after the new hospital opens.

Councillors did agree to set up a meeting with the Trust and residents to try and reach an agreement as soon as possible so a plan could be approved and out into action before the hospital opens in March.