Solar panels installation disrupts patient parking

The trust said by expanding solar power it would reduce carbon emissions by about 230 tonnes annually

Installation of solar panels designed to reduce a hospital trust's carbon emissions has been disrupting patient parking.

Drivers have been forced to do laps of full car parks and stopping on verges and pavement, at Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen, Shropshire.

NHS Foundation Trust at Gobowen said by expanding solar power, with panels on car ports, it would cut about 230 tonnes of carbon annually and save up to £300,000 a year, helping it prepare for "reduced reliance on imported electricity".

The trust said it planned to provide overspill parking as the work continues, with the panels installations in patient car parks due to be finished by Christmas.

The solar carports are being built in a number of patient and staff car parks, a trust spokesperson said

"This is on the back of our first carports installed in one of our staff car parks last year, which have been very successful," they explained.

"The latest round of work, which has been made possible by funding from Great British Energy, will be going on in stages, with the installation in our patient car park due to be completed by Christmas."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.