PARKING problems in the streets around Burnley General Hospital could soon be a thing of the past after the hospital trust agreed to step in to try to solve the issue.

Parking around the hospital site in Casterton Avenue has been a problem for more than 25 years with residents complaining about streets being blocked by cars belonging to hospital workers and visitors.

The controversial and ambitious plans for the £20million Phase Five development at the hospital site are now to be discussed at an emergency meeting tomorrow after concerns were raised about residential car parking.

The plans for Phase Five were discussed at a council meeting last week but were deferred after a lengthy debate over the parking issue.

The trust has now offered to pay £23,000 to the council to develop residents only parking schemes in several of the worst affected streets.

These have yet to be identified.

Resident Tony Taggart, of Fleetwood Road, said: "Even if something is done about the problem these schemes won't be up and running for at least 18 months.

"So the problem will carry on for a while yet.

"The problem is just getting worse and worse. I have seen some cars parked with all four wheels on the pavement, it's horrendous."

Coun Paula Riley, whose Lanehead ward is affected by the parking problems, spoke at last week's meeting on behalf of residents and will also attend this week's debate. She said: "This has been a major problem for 25 years or more and it's time something was done about it.

"Everyone I have spoken to who has visited the hospital has had problems parking at some stage.

"It is appalling and I hope that this time a solution can be delivered."

More than 170 new beds in five separate wards will be created for dermatology and stroke patients as well as new outpatient accommodation as part of the scheme.

Facilities for Ear Nose and Throat, audiology and dermatology patients and a new renal dialysis unit are also included.

There will also be a new main entrance, landscaping and more car parking space.

The improvements, phase five of the hospital's redevelopment programme, will be paid for under the Private Finance Initiative, which has been criticised by unions and Burnley MP Peter Pike.

The effect of using public-private partnerships to build hospitals is falling bed numbers and service cuts, a report suggested last week.

The scheme is one of the first major initiatives under the newly merged East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, previously Burnley NHS Trust and Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust.

The new organisation, responsible for Burnley General Hospital, Pendle Community Hospital, Queen's Park Hospital and Rossendale Hospital as well as Blackburn Royal Infirmary, employs around 6,500 people and has an annual budget of £210 million.