A NURSE at Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital is searching for a new job after hearing she will be barred from parking on site.

Staff have been told the criteria for buying permits for the multi-storey stack are changing due to “limited availability” of spaces and a desire to encourage use of greener transport.

The nurse, who travels from Wellington, said: “I’ve always qualified for a permit, but they’ve now said you have to live at least eight miles away – it means I’ll just miss out.

“I work lates sometimes, so am I expected to walk in the dark on my own to my car, wherever I’m meant to park?

“There’s lots of ill-feeling and I’m so incensed I’m trying to find another job nearer home.”

Another hospital worker said: “It doesn’t make sense – there are spaces at the top of the multi-storey car park. It’s not full.

“We’re always hearing that neighbours get angry when staff park outside their homes, but this change doesn’t leave us much choice.”

A Musgrove spokesman said staff pay a monthly fee for their permits to car park operator Q-Park.

He added: “All members of staff have the opportunity to apply for a parking permit.

“However, there are limited spaces on-site, and so staff need to meet certain criteria to be able to apply for a permit.

“Due to the limited availability, and as part of our wider sustainability project which supports a reduction in carbon footprints through more environmentally friendly methods of commuting, the decision was made to work with staff to review the scoring criteria, which was introduced to support the allocation of parking permits.

“The new criteria have been introduced to encourage staff to look at other ways to travel to and from work, for example utilising the new park and ride bus services, joining the cycle to work scheme or car sharing opportunities, to reduce the demand on permits, so staff working out-of-hours (night shift workers) can safely park on-site.

“Any members of staff who have concerns about parking can speak to our car park operators Q Park, who are based on-site and always happy to talk through people’s queries.”