A BARROW councillor has called for free parking for NHS staff to continue into the future.

Concerns were sparked after health minister Edward Argar said in a written statement the support necessary to continue free parking ‘cannot continue indefinitely’.

And Alan Pemberton, borough councillor for the Hawcoat ward, within which Barrow’s Furness General Hospital is located, expressed his desire for the perk to continue.

“Personally I’d like to see them get free parking further on because of two things really,” he said.

“One - because of the great effort that they have in put in over the last four months.

“It’s been a great effort and much appreciated by everybody.”

He said the second reason was that the area by the hospital had a ‘big problem’ with parking, 'mostly to do' with the cars of visitors and hospital staff.

“We have been struggling with it for some years,” he said.

“We are hoping that the hospital is going to build a multi-storey car park.”

“I know car parking on local roads around the hospital has been horrendous and we have been fighting for something to be done about it.”

On the issue of free car parking, Kate Maynard, interim chief operating officer at University Hospitals Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are awaiting further information and guidance from the government and as soon as we know more, we will issue an update. In the meantime, parking remains free on all our hospital sites for staff, patients and visitors.”