NHS staff have been given free access to the Littledown Centre car park.

There are currently hundreds of spaces available due to the closure of the centre.

And it is situated opposite the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

The free parking will be in operation until the end of April and will operate 24-hours-a-day.

The move follows conversations between BCP Council, BH Live and the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals (RBCH).

Working together, the organisations aim to ensure that NHS staff can get to work on time, reduce reliance on public transport and be more flexible in their working schedule. This will support them in the delivery of essential front-line services.

Councillor Vikki Slade, Leader of BCP Council, said:“We want to do everything we can to support our hardworking colleagues in the NHS. By working with BH Live and facilitating free parking, we hope to make things a little easier and remove one less worry for all the NHS staff who are doing a remarkable job in these unprecedented times.”

The offer will be reviewed at the end of April and is exclusively for NHS staff. RBCH will be communicating this direct to their staff to ensure they are aware of this arrangement.

Supporting NHS staff who normally use public transport, Troika Developments have also agreed to allow RBCH staff who do not currently park on site, access to the Tringham House car park opposite Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

In addition, Poole Hospital staff have been offered spaces by Bournemouth and Poole College at the Danecourt Road site and also by Barclays in the town centre.

Debbie Fleming, Joint Chief Executive of both Poole Hospital and The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are very grateful to the local organisations who are offering our staff help at this time.

"With the changes in public transport and guidelines on social distancing, it is important that our staff can get to and from work in as timely and safe way as possible. These generous offers can help make this possible.”