TRANSPORT chiefs in Winchester have been accused of sabotaging a trial scheme to extend park-and-ride services to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

A patients' watchdog has criticised the decision to run the service to the hospital in Romsey Road only at peak times.

Winchester and Eastleigh Patient and Public Involvement Forum (PPIF) says the move will reduce the number of patients and visitors using the service, as well as staff who work shifts.

Forum members also fear it could deter visitors to Hampshire's police headquarters, Winchester Prison and University College Winchester from leaving their cars outside the city and catching a bus.

In a report to Hampshire County Council's Health Review Committee, the patients' forum stated: "We understand that the six-month trial will be reviewed after three months and, if it is not being used, halted.

"If this is so, it is not therefore a six-month trial. Why review half-way through?"

They also questioned why the bus did not stop at all park-and-ride bus stops in the city and why low-floor buses more suitable for disabled passengers and parents with buggies were not being used.

However, the city council's transport supremo dismissed the forum's claims.

Councillor Richard Knasel said the problem with the timetabling was down to a lack of funds to run the service all day, and that despite interest from businesses on the Romsey Road, none were willing to commit funds to the scheme.

Cllr Knasel added that the bus didn't stop at other places en route because it was designed to be a quick bus from the park-and-ride site to the hospital so that commuters got to work quicker.

He also said that the reason for the three-month review was that the operators needed two-months' notice if they weren't to continue the service.

The £55,000 trial scheme started earlier last month.

Park-and-ride has been identified by transport chiefs in the city as vital to reducing the Winchester's chronic traffic congestion problems.