COMMUNITY leaders have called for a meeting with health bosses to discuss concerns about the numbers of cars parking on the streets around a hospital.

Durham County Councillors Audrey Laing and Harry Bennett want to lobby representatives from the local authority’s traffic team and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust over problems around Peterlee Community Hospital.

Residents living near the hospital have complained about cars parking in front of their homes, while people visiting the site have had difficulties getting parked.

The trust which runs the hospital made changes to charges at the site’s car park on a trial basis earlier this year following prolonged campaigning by the councillors.

The changes were make in a bid to encourage patients, visitors and staff to use the facility rather than park on neighbouring streets.

The council’s traffic team has also introduced yellow lines on the O’Neill Drive junction to stop people parking on it and impairing visibility for motorists, and has agreed to attend the meeting.

Cllr Laing said: “We were happy when the trust changed its charges, but the trial has now ended and we still have residents contacting us about people parking outside their homes.

“We have spoken to the council’s traffic team and they are happy to meet us to discuss whether anything can be done to improve the situation for both residents and people using the hospital.

“We are hoping that a representative from the trust will come along as well so we can all work together to try and identify solutions.”