AN £80,000 plan to expand the often-crowded parking space at Potters Bar Community Hospital has been approved by Hertsmere Council.

This week, the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy investment panel recommended the approval of a bid to fund expansion of the car park.

The bid, made by Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT), aims to address the severe shortage of off-street parking both for hospital staff and visitors by adding 20 new spaces.

Finance Director at HCT Phil Bradley said: “We believe this is the first time this sort of funding has been given to an NHS organisation in Hertfordshire and we are extremely pleased to be working in partnership with the council.

“Not only will the work address the significant problem of parking on and around the site, it potentially gives us an opportunity to offer more services closer to people’s homes in Potters Bar.”

The hospital provides several specialist services to Hertfordshire and North London, such as bladder and bowel care and speech and language therapy.

The funding will allow additional parking spaces to be provided, as part of a wider reconfiguration of the 65-space car park, enabling parking capacity to increase by more than 40 per cent.

Harvey Cohen, Conservative councillor for Elstree, said: “We were well aware of the problems to both local residents and patients caused by the shortage of parking at this important and much needed community hospital.

“They were delighted to receive a bid that would help improve conditions for both residents and users.”