Bid to expand car park next to Lincoln prison

The car park next to Lincoln prison, with banners stating it is for hospital staff only

A busy car park next to Lincoln prison could get more spaces due to increased demand from the hospital next door.

Plans have been submitted to City of Lincoln Council for improvements to turn the temporary 170-space car park on Greetwell Road into a permanent facility, with 22 more spaces.

The operator, Watch This Space Property Development, said all the spaces at the car park – which was previously pay-and-display for general use – were currently contracted to Lincoln County Hospital staff.

If the proposals get the go-ahead, the operators plan to return the car park to a pay-and-display facility with "no intention to raise costs".

HMP Lincoln Prison is on Greetwell Road opposite Lincoln County Hospital

Lincolnshire Action Trust (LAT), which works with HMP Lincoln to reduce reoffending, has announced its support for the project, stating that revenue from the car park would be invested into services at the prison.

In April, the acting governor of the prison said it "faced challenges", with hospital staff, visitors and contractors using its parking facilities for free.

It resulted in prison staff and visitors struggling to park and having to pay to use facilities at the hospital, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A car park was then established by HMP Lincoln behind the prison.

Banners have since been placed at the entrance to the car park on Greetwell Road, stating that it is "strictly" just for NHS staff and contractors.

'Essential revenue'

Alison Goddard, the chief executive of the action trust, said: "LAT has worked with HMP Lincoln and Watch This Space Property Development for a number of years to maximise previously unused wasteland to the side of the prison.

"Whilst the development of this car park provision benefits United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust through provision of much needed parking space for staff, importantly for LAT the provision generates essential revenue that we invest in services for prisoners and their families at HMP Lincoln."

Ms Goddard said LAT would not be able to fund its services without the income from the car park, and its work to reduce reoffending would not take place.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.