HEALTH chiefs are pleading with council chiefs to solve the "mess" over parking at Burnley General Hospital.

They say 2,000 spaces are needed to meet demand an additional 1,000 on what is available now at the Casterton Avenue hospital.

But council chiefs want hospital bosses to cut the existing number of spaces in a bid to reduce car use, congestion and pollution.

In an effort to reach a compromise, hospital managers have asked for the council to relax its rules and give them 500 extra spaces.

Today Gordon Birtwistle, the leader of Burnley Council, said he would be prepared to negotiate in order to find a solution.

He added: "The hospital needs more car parking. We receive many complaints about people who can't park there and people who live near there who can't get in their front door."

But Coun Tony Martin, who represents Burnley Central West, warned that creating 500 extra spaces would not solve the problems.

He added: "I welcome these plans but there will be a shortfall and it will continue to be difficult to park there.

"There is a big problem and parking at Burnley General is a mess.

"The problem is that the hospital has built on a lot of its car parking space and has become a victim of its own success." East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has admitted there is a "clear conflict" over the issue.

The request for extra spaces has been put forward in the trust's long-term plan.

The authority is allowed a maximum of 1,098 spaces at the site, but this must be reduced over time.

Yet a survey by the trust shows there is a demand for 2,000 spaces.

The trust has suggested several areas where the problem can be tackled.

These include looking at encouraging staff to cycle to work by providing bike shelters.

They have also proposed installing extra showers around the site for the cyclists.

Promoting car sharing is also an option to ease the problems.