RESIDENTS have slammed controversial parking proposals which could see nurses and doctors forced to pay to parking around the hospital at weekends.

Neighbours said the plan should be thrown out because hospital staff rely on free parking during weekends when the hospital's main carpark is full.

But Cllr Tony Page, lead member for transport, urged hospital bosses to take up the council's offer on subsidising a park and ride type scheme for staff.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) wants motorists to pay for weekend parking in pay-and-display areas around Redlands. It is currently free on Saturday and Sunday.

It comes after the authority revealed it has to save a further £11.5m from its spending by 2020.

Residents blasted the proposals, saying Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) staff should be entitled to free parking.

Lois Bray said: "It's not just patients that use it it's staff at the hospital as well i.e nurses/midwives etc. They can't park in the car park because it's too small, but they at least should be able to park on the streets for free."

Thomas Wedd added: "The whole thing seems to be a cynical money making ruse by RBC.

"Every day see several cars with tickets on windscreens, the majority of whom are probably visitors to the RBH."

Despite the claims, Cllr Page defended the council's plans, which could add around £50,000 to its shrinking budget.

The authority's deputy leader urged hospital staff to use public transport to and from work and said the council has asked the hospital to subsidise a park and ride scheme for its employees.

He said: "Mereoak and Winnersh Triangle are obvious locations for a park and ride because they already have that facility.

"That's something we would encourage the hospital to look to. We have given them details about the level of subsidy required but they have so far declined."

RBC wants to introduce the new charges around Redlands by April 2018.

A report adds: "If accepted, the weekend charging will manage parking in the pay and display areas in the same way that Monday to Friday is managed."

RBH was approached for a comment.