Kingston Hospital wants to build an on-site multistorey car park, even though it has committed itself to reducing its car parking capacity by 20 per cent.

The proposal flies in the face of the councils and hospitals own green transport strategies on promoting use of public transport.

Backing the idea are the Conservatives, who described Kingston Councils green travel plan as poppycock, recognising that public transport in Kingston was lamentable.

The proposal builds on an idea thought up by hospital directors, to bring the sites current car parking space under one roof, without increasing capacity, to free up space for landscaping and future development.

But councillors are keen for a larger car park to benefit the wider community by providing parking spaces for people travelling into the town centre.

Hospital deputy chief executive Alan Pearse said: We are keen on the idea and think it would help both visitors, staff and the general public.

The idea is still in its infancy and several issues still need to be discussed such as the car park size, whether it is to be underground, the number of floors and the financing.

Councillor Dennis Doe, co-chairman of the Royal Park neighbourhood committee, said: I think the green travel plan is fine in theory but poppycock in practice. Its an impractical thing to apply to a hospital.

Some residents, fed up with their streets being clogged up by hospital staff and visitors, have welcomed the idea.

Ian Lachlan, a spokesman for Blenheim Gardens residents, said: We will support strongly a multistorey car park with a capacity that realistically caters for the number of cars that use and are likely to continue to use the hospital.

Lib Dem Councillor Tricia Bamford, chairman of the environment overview panel welcomed the proposal in the absence of a decent public transport system.

But she said: We are concerned about linking staff parking to public parking at this site, which could conflict with our green travel plans.

By.Steven Shukor