A new car park will open at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary within the next few weeks.

Work is already underway on the temporary car park, which will create an additional 100 spaces.

It follows widespread criticism of the parking chaos at the hospital, on Newtown Road. New chief executive Stephen Eames vowed to tackle the issue after hundreds of people liked a Facebook campaign page calling for urgent action.

The first step is to create a temporary area for staff, freeing up more space in the main car parks and easing congestion.

The new car park will be next to Reiver House, in the hospital grounds, and will provide 100 staff spaces.

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust said it has been working with their PFI partner, which owns the infirmary site, to improve the availability of parking provision for everyone who uses the hospital – patients, visitors and staff alike.

A hospital statement said: “The trust fully recognises that it can be very stressful and frustrating for patients attending appointments, visitors wanting to see their loved ones and staff who are about to start their working day, if they cannot park without difficulty.

“The new spaces for staff will free up other areas of the car park for patient and visitors to use.

“The Trust would also like to remind everyone who parks at the hospital that parking on double red lines is strictly prohibited.

“Double red lines are used to mark access routes for emergency vehicles and should be kept clear at all times.”

Plans are also being finalised for a permanent car park which will provide around 350 additional spaces, located by the helipad in the hospital grounds.

Work should start in late summer and it is anticipated it will be completed by the end of the year.

Mr Eames has previously said he will also look at new ways to police the car park, such as installing a barrier, to prevent misuse and improve the turnover of spaces.