Desperately-needed extra car parking spaces are being provided at Airedale Hospital.

Preparation work has started on a new staff parking area, between the former nurses accommodation, and 80 additional spaces will be reserved for the public on the west car park.

Work is expected to take about three weeks, and the new parking area will open once permission is finalised from planners.

It is also proposed to create an extra 15 spaces near the education centre next month.

David Moss, assistant director of estates and facilities at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have received more complaints in recent months from people struggling to park at the hospital and so have decided that we need to urgently do something about it.

“Patients are becoming distressed and agitated as a result of not being able to find a parking place and in some cases being late for appointments or going home. It is having a significantly detrimental effect on the patient journey. Our plans will mean that there are more car parking spaces at Airedale Hospital than ever before.

“We are currently in discussions with Bradford planning officers.”