Health chiefs are urging people to think "green" and use public
transport when visiting Airedale General Hospital in Steeton.
Work on providing an extra 150 car parking bays at the hospital is
due to be completed by the New Year, bringing the number of spaces up
to about 1,000.
But Airedale NHS Trust bosses want to make it the last extension to
the parking area which has grown by about a third in the last four
years.
Finance chief, Janet Crouch, said the scheme was being funded by
money raised through car parking charges and was an extension to the
West car park.
"We would like to make this the last extension to the car parking
facilities at the hospital. The more provision you make the more it
fills up," she said.
"We would welcome any ideas to encourage people to use public
transport and other forms of transport."
The Friends of Airedale already provide a special bus service from
Steeton railway station to the hospital and the trust is supporting
the introduction of a pedestrian access link from the railway station.
Bradford Council is planning the link as part of a new housing
development in the village.
And on completion of the work a review of parking facilities will
be carried out.
"The aim is to give priority to patient-parking nearest the
locations people are attending," she said.
In addition, hospital chiefs are considering a scheme to improve
facilities for drop-off and pick-up points and the provision of short
stay parking.
They were also considering a scheme to reserve parking for people
attending meetings and events.
But despite the improvements, staff and visitors are being
encouraged to use alternative forms of transport.
The Friends of Airedale runs a service where people can request a
bus to meet them at a specific time at the station.
They should telephone (01535) 652511 extension 4607 or 2236.
The Friends also run a service from Silsden from the Punch Bowl
public house on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1.30pm
returning at 3.30pm from the hospital.
Keighley & District Travel run special services into the grounds of
the hospital from Keighley and Skipton.
Among them are the 669 service from Keighley which sets off from
Keighley at 5 minutes past and 35 minutes past the hour Monday to
Saturday.
And the evening service into Skipton, the number 66/68A, starts at
6.40pm in time for visiting at 7pm.
A bus company spokesman stressed that the times were not standard
throughout the day and people must check the timetable.
Call (01535) 603284 for more details.
From the archive
www.keighleynews.co.uk
© Newsquest Media Group 1998