Health chiefs are urging people to think "green" and use public transport when visiting Airedale General Hospital in Steeton.

Work on providing an extra 150 car parking bays at the hospital is due to be completed by the New Year, bringing the number of spaces up to about 1,000.

But Airedale NHS Trust bosses want to make it the last extension to the parking area which has grown by about a third in the last four years.

Finance chief, Janet Crouch, said the scheme was being funded by money raised through car parking charges and was an extension to the West car park.

"We would like to make this the last extension to the car parking facilities at the hospital. The more provision you make the more it fills up," she said.

"We would welcome any ideas to encourage people to use public transport and other forms of transport."

The Friends of Airedale already provide a special bus service from Steeton railway station to the hospital and the trust is supporting the introduction of a pedestrian access link from the railway station. Bradford Council is planning the link as part of a new housing development in the village.

And on completion of the work a review of parking facilities will be carried out.

"The aim is to give priority to patient-parking nearest the locations people are attending," she said.

In addition, hospital chiefs are considering a scheme to improve facilities for drop-off and pick-up points and the provision of short stay parking.

They were also considering a scheme to reserve parking for people attending meetings and events.

But despite the improvements, staff and visitors are being encouraged to use alternative forms of transport.

The Friends of Airedale runs a service where people can request a bus to meet them at a specific time at the station.

They should telephone (01535) 652511 extension 4607 or 2236.

The Friends also run a service from Silsden from the Punch Bowl public house on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1.30pm returning at 3.30pm from the hospital.

Keighley & District Travel run special services into the grounds of the hospital from Keighley and Skipton.

Among them are the 669 service from Keighley which sets off from Keighley at 5 minutes past and 35 minutes past the hour Monday to Saturday.

And the evening service into Skipton, the number 66/68A, starts at 6.40pm in time for visiting at 7pm.

A bus company spokesman stressed that the times were not standard throughout the day and people must check the timetable.

Call (01535) 603284 for more details.

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