READERS have slammed plans to build a multi-storey car park at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital which would not increase the amount of spaces.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) confirmed this week that it was aiming to file a planning application for a multi-storey car park at the Headington hospital before the end of the year.

It comes after Mick Haines, an independent city councillor for Marston, began getting signatures together for a bigger car park.

Read again: John Radcliffe WILL build a multi-storey car park – but there won't be any extra spaces

The petition was put online and has now racked up more than 3,000 supporters.

But, even if the petition is a ‘success’ and the hospital plans to build a car park, it will not lead to an increase in parking spaces.

This is in line with Oxford City Council’s guidelines not to increase car parking spaces in the area.

Read again: 600 people want a multi-storey at the John Radcliffe

Reacting to the news on the Oxford Mail website yesterday, commenter OxfordRob said: “So am I reading this right they could possibly go ahead with building it but the spaces would be the same as that available already?

“I have to ask because I just can’t believe this. This is the kind of thing you read about in the Private Eye. Seriously.”

Conwayr added: “I was under the assumption that the councils worked for the people that elect them. Why are they not listening to something the people want? That hospital is crying out for more parking.”

There are currently about 743 public parking spaces at the JR.

Read more: Parking unlikely to be increased at the JR despite dozens of formal complaints

If the new car park plan is approved, many of those spaces would be shunted into one multi-storey.

On Facebook, Patricia Irving said: “Yesterday trying to get a heavily pregnant with complications patient to the maternity entrance we found ourselves stuck in the tailback of the queue waiting to access the car parks, the road is too narrow and the corner blind due to traffic.

"We had to take a gamble like one or two other cars had to, by overtaking the queue in the oncoming traffic lane. Thankfully we were successful this time.”

The city council did not comment on whether it plans to review the guidelines.

Another reader told how they tried to get to the hospital on public transport from 4 four miles away, but the journey took 80 minutes there and the same going home.