WORCESTER'S new £96m hospital could be 1,000 car parking spaces short, it is feared.

Councillor Mike Layland now believes a report handed to the city council from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has failed to include facilities for patient parking.

Proposals to dig up trees and flatten an embankment to make way for some of the 1,322 identified spaces have been criticised by councillors concerned about privacy for nearby residents.

"We have been saying for three years that there's going to be a shortage," said Coun Layland, speaking after the meeting.

"It's the people in my ward who are going to be the ones who can't get out of their drives in the morning. It's time to come clean and build a multi-storey car park," added Coun Layland, who covers the Ronkswood ward.

Both Coun Geoff Williams and Coun Allah Ditta are backing him up.

"There's clearly a major problem with parking," said Coun Williams.

"There are solutions, but they may be more expensive, such as multi-storey car parks."

Coun Ditta agreed, describing it as the 'ideal solution' for the hospital, due to open in March 2002.

Turn to page 26