PLANNING bosses have been warned not to cut the number of parking spaces when Essex County Hospital is redeveloped.

Colchester Council put forward a brief on the future use of the site when services are transferred to Colchester General Hospital in April.

The report, which covers three options, was debated at the council’s Local Plan Committee meeting on Tuesday, where concerns over parking and site security were raised.

The three options are:

1. Conversion of existing buildings to residential, with new build apartments and a sheltered housing scheme

2. Residential with a mix of housing

3. Mixed residential which satisfies adopted parking standards

Officers wanted to drop the council’s policy on one space for every one-bedroom flat and two spaces for every two bedroom flat as it would be an “inefficient” use of the site.

But this came under fire from councillors.

Deputy committee chairman Martin Goss said there was “no way” he was signing up to the reduced parking.

He said: “It needs to be reverted back to two spaces. The parking needs to be sorted out – it is bonkers.”

Prettygate ward councillor Sue Lissimore called for developers to provide more parking.

She said: “A recent report said we are a car town. This is not going to change if we do not supply car parking spaces.”

She also called for 24-hour security at the site while it waits to be developed.

The report notes a wholly residential solution for the site is favoured by NHS advisors.

She said: “This is not favoured by Colchester Council but by the interests of the NHS.

“It is favoured to gain the most money, not favoured to gain the most benefit to the people of Colchester.”