A DECISION on the future of a car park in Cirencester has been deferred to a later meeting after Cotswold District Council’s planning committee decided it needed more information to make a decision.

The Dowager Countess Bathurst previously leased the car park to the hospital to allow staff to park for free but terminated the contract last year.

A planning application was submitted to the council for the site to be allowed to have barriers and operate as a pay and display car park but it was brought to the planning committee’s attention by Cllr Joe Harris over concerns about access for emergency vehicles.

Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust’s chief executive Paul Jennings wrote to Cotswold District Council on August 22 to object to the proposal.

Head of Estates at the Trust Mark Parsons explained that the new system could block people coming into and out of the hospital and potentially obstruct ambulances if the plans go ahead as they are currently designed.

He said: “The access road needs to be kept clear to allow 24 hour access to emergency vehicles, particularly for blue light emergency ambulances entering and leaving the site.

“Although we are opposing this particular application, we remain hopeful that a solution to the use of the car park is found which is agreeable to the Trust and landowner and beneficial to the hospital and the people of Cirencester.”