A NEW park-and-ride scheme could be launched in a Hampshire town in a bid to solve its parking crisis.

Buses will operate between Lymington New Forest Hospital and the town centre every Saturday if the congestion-busting plan is given the go-ahead.

It follows growing concern over the acute shortage of parking spaces in the main shopping area, which attracts tourists as well as residents.

In the summer demand often exceeds supply by ten per cent, resulting in traffic chaos as drivers scour the town for somewhere to park.

The park-and-ride proposal is due to be debated by the district council’s planning and transport review panel on Wednesday.

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However, potential problems have already arisen following talks with Hampshire County Council, the Wilts & Dorset bus company and hospital bosses.

Fares and the frequency of the buses are among the issues that need to be addressed.

Using an existing service would result in each passenger having to pay £1.80 return on vehicles that ran only once every half-hour, says a report to councillors.

However, hiring a special bus would cost the authority about £280 a day.

Civic chiefs are also looking at the possibility of allowing motorists to use the car park at Lymington Junior School on Saturdays.

The school is opposite the town hall, where proposed improvements will create an extra 50 parking spaces that the public can use at weekends.

As reported in the Daily Echo, councillors have slammed the brakes on proposals to build a multi-storey car park in Cannon Street or Avenue Road.

They agreed that the £6m facility would be an eyesore as well as being too costly to build and maintain.

Acouncil spokesman told the Daily Echo: “For Lymington to thrive there needs to be sufficient parking for those wishing to visit the town. However, the facilities provided should not be so intrusive that they detract from the special environment.”