INCREASED staff parking charges at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital could be used to fund a new junction with the A338.

The trust plans to up the charges in July, with the increased revenue being used to establish "initiatives to help staff seek alternative ways of getting to work".

However an email sent to staff said the trust "expects to contribute toward the cost" of the planned new access off the Wessex Way, and that the cost "will be met in part from these changes".

A spokesman said: "Our staff car parking charges are being increased in July, although there will be no changes for our lowest paid staff.

"Despite the rise, staff at Southampton Hospital and Dorset Council Hospital still pay more for parking. Poole Hospital charges more than we do for lower banded staff, and the same for bands 6 to 8.

"Now that the Dorset County Council road improvements to the A338 have been finished we are keen to avoid congestion around our site, so we are putting in place several schemes to encourage staff to seek alternative routes to work.

"This includes an additional secure cycle shelter for up to 40 cycles with lockers, and free bus travel to staff surrendering parking permits.

"The increased revenue will go towards supporting initiatives to help staff seek alternative ways of getting to work and to help with our sustainability agenda.

"We are also working with the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) on plans to help improve access to and from our site with the A338."

The Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership said plans for the access scheme - referred to as Wessex Fields - would be in place by September, and the trust said it could not confirm that parking revenue will definitely contribute to the road improvements as the funding arrangements have yet to be finalised.

The trust is currently bidding to be named the county's major emergency care site as part of the Clinical Services Review, and has been chosen as the 'preferred option' by the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group despite criticism that the site is difficult to access via its current entrance in Deansleigh Road during periods of heavy traffic.

LEP director Lorna Carver said: "The Bournemouth International Growth programme is a major economic growth plan focused on employment and development around Bournemouth Airport and Wessex Fields.

"We expect to have a clear idea as to details of the next planned transport schemes and associated funding by September."