PARKING restrictions will now be imposed at Arrowe Park Hospital at the end of May following discussions with Wirral Council.

The local authority is concerned that visitors will park in nearby residential areas if they cannot park on site, and so an assessment of the parking situation in the surrounding areas is to be carried out.

Meanwhile the hospital is trying to encourage visitors to make use of the park and ride service operating from Sainsbury's Upton, which has been extended.

Neil Stanier, Director of Facilities Management at the Trust, said: "We are grateful to all those who have used, and continue to use, the park and ride service and we recognise the concerns of the council.

"We will make good use of the next two months by encouraging visitors to use the park and ride or make alternative transport arrangements.

"However, an enforced restriction on weekday visitors is the only option we will be left with if more people do not make use of the park and ride service or public transport, and this will be strictly enforced in order to give patients and staff a better chance of being able to park without any problems."