THE COUNCIL is set to increase the number of park and ride buses running to the town's hospital in a bid to stop people from driving.

Areas surrounding Royal Berkshire Hospital, including its dedicated car park, have often been plagued with parking problems.

Earlier in the year the council introduced a controversial residents' only parking scheme in surrounding roads in a bid to thwart people from travelling to the hospital by car.

Now, starting on Monday October 2, Reading Borough Council will extend its park and ride service running from Mereoak to the Craven Road Hospital.

Buses will depart at various intervals between 9.50am and 2.50pm. Return services will run between 10.25am and 3.40pm.

Tony Page, lead member for transport, said: "The position of the hospital and university in a residential area brings obvious pressures on limited parking spaces.

"For years the Council has been lobbied to help safeguard limited parking for local residents, and in January the council introduced a mixture of residents only parking, pay and display and shared use bays, which has been largely welcomed by local residents.

“The other way to help relieve parking pressures – for both residents and the hospital – is for more people to make use of the regular Greenwave buses on offer.

"We are now extending that service significantly and we hope the hospital will join the Council in promoting this service widely to both staff and hospital visitors.

“We realise of course that using the park and ride service will not be possible or appropriate for everyone. Staff working hours and the limitations of some hospital visitors are of course obvious constraints.

"For people who can – particularly for those visiting the hospital from further afield – it provides a real and sustainable alternative to the car."