The MP for Hitchin has launched a campaign calling for local authorities and the hospital trust to work together to find solutions to longstanding parking problems at the Lister Hospital.

Alistair Strathern has started a petition urging Hertfordshire County Council, Stevenage Borough Council and the hospital to explore ways of increasing parking capacity and improving access for patients and staff.

The campaign has already attracted more than 400 signatures within 48 hours of launching.

It comes after the Government announced a £27 million funding package for the Lister, which will support the development of a new Children's Centre, a renal unit and upgrades to existing wards.

While welcoming the investment, Strathern said parking remained a major concern for many residents using the hospital.

His office says it regularly receives reports from patients and visitors who have struggled to find parking spaces, with some arriving late for appointments or missing them altogether because of the difficulties.

The MP is now calling on Hertfordshire County Council, Stevenage Borough Council and the hospital trust to examine all possible options for easing pressure on the site, including the potential use of council-owned assets in Stevenage.

Strathern said: "The £27 million we have secured from Government to improve facilities at the Lister will make a real difference to patient care, right across the hospital.

advertisement

"But we cannot ignore the everyday reality faced by staff and patients when it comes to parking. By working together, HCC, SBC and the Lister have an opportunity to find practical, deliverable solutions that ease pressure and improve access for everyone.

"Ensuring that patients can attend appointments without added stress, and that hardworking NHS staff can reliably access their workplace, must be a shared priority.

"That's why I am urging our local councils to step up and do their bit in helping Lister tackle this shared challenge for our community."

Parking at the Lister has been a longstanding issue, particularly during busy periods, with limited space available on and around the hospital campus.

The new campaign aims to build support for a coordinated approach between the councils and the hospital trust as the site prepares for future expansion and investment.