Hospital applies to build parking on grassland

The number of hospital staff is set to increase, the NHS trust said

An NHS hospital trust has applied to build car parking spaces over grassland.

West Berkshire Community Hospital, between Newbury and Thatcham, needs 41 more spaces for staff as it deals with more patients, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said.

It wants to replace a partially grassed surface with asphalt and also build over adjoining green land, creating 36 extra bays in total.

However, West Berkshire Council has raised objections over potential flooding and drainage.

In a planning statement, the NHS trust said the permanent staff car park was already inadequate.

It said: "Staff numbers are expected to increase to accommodate the rising patient numbers, meaning this is an increasing problem."

It added that no more patient and visitor spaces were needed.

The development would involve the loss of about 12 small trees, but 19 new ones could be planted in mitigation, according to the trust's environmental consultants.

However, West Berkshire Council drainage officer Jenni Walters has objected to the plan.

In a comment on the application, she said there was no acknowledgement of the flood risk as well as a lack of detail on drainage.

The hospital provides services including a minor injuries unit for patients from Newbury and surrounding areas.

Work to install an MRI scanner is imminent, according to the planning application.