PAUL Hepworth's letter regarding York District Hospital's plans for extra parking (Letters, April 22) fails to take into account the fact that since that hospital was built it has had to cater for patients from both the City Hospital and the maternity hospital at Fulford.

The extra staff who now work at the hospital do require parking facilities, as local buses do not always meet their needs, with the various shifts that they have to work.

Unlike Mr Hepworth they are not all cyclists and many could not afford taxis.

Sick people need to attend out-patient appointments, while those patients staying in hospital do like to have the odd visitor to cheer them up. Is Mr Hepworth suggesting the sick cycle to hospital, or that patients should not have visitors?

It is about time Mr Hepworth realised that until public transport is improved, the car will continue to dominate the roads. As the population continues to live longer (thanks to the NHS), we can look forward to more people needing to park at the hospital.

In closing may I ask if it is true that eventually Union Terrace car park is to be double-decked?

P S Morton,

Brockfield Park Drive,

Huntington, York.

...I HAVE followed with interest the story of the car park at York District Hospital.

The City of York Council has made progress in reducing road traffic in York. This could all be put in reverse if the car park is built as planned. This would just bring in more traffic, more pollution and more accidents.

On the other hand many people have a real need to use the car park.

The answer is not to increase the parking spaces at the hospital, but to allow only people with a real need to use the car park, for example people with an appointment or a need to visit the accident and emergency department and so forth. The money saved could then be used on reducing the waiting list.

As for everyone else, walking, cycling or the bus service will provide the answer.

P Allenby,

Kexby Avenue,

Hull Road,

York.

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