Parking problems should now become a thing of the past for visitors to Halton Haven Hospice after Halton Housing Trust paved the way for a new car park.

For many months now people visiting friends and relatives at the Hospice in Barnfield Avenue in Murdishaw have often had to park on grass verges or along the road outside due to a shortage of parking spaces.

For the last year, the Hospice has been one of the Trust’s two nominated charities which the locally-based social landlord has been committed to supporting. So, when they heard of their plight they stepped in and offered to find a solution.

Forming a project team, the Trust has helped source funding, find a contractor to carry out the work and project manage the work on behalf of Halton Haven Hospice.

Of the £38,000 needed to remodel and resurface the car park, £10,000 has come from Halton Housing Trust and £18,000 from Halton Borough Council’s Area Forum Funding. The remaining £10,000 has been provided by Bullock Construction and Bramall Construction, two of the contractors working with the Trust on its investment programme to customers’ homes.

The work itself has been carried out by Bullock Construction, working closely with the Trust’s design team.

Nick Atkin, the Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said: “We are delighted to be able to make such a difference to Halton Haven.

“We hope the contribution we have been able to make will last for many years to come and ease the parking problems visitors have been experiencing.

“This is the perfect culmination to Halton Haven’s year as one of the Trust’s nominated charities. Over this time the Trust has made regular donations and given time in kind to carry out repairs and maintenance.”

Halton Borough Council’s Cllr Stef Nelson said: “This is a perfect example of the good work that our Area Forums do, reflecting the wants and needs of residents at a grass-roots level.”

The new car park, which includes seven new parking bays and a designated ambulance drop off point, was officially opened on Monday 6th April.

Shaun Pollard, Director of Corporate Services at Halton Haven Hospice, said: “We are thrilled that the Trust, the Council, Bullock and Bramall have been so generous with their funding and time, and have been able to provide a new car park.

“Halton Haven Hospice is a charity and we rely on the generosity of local people and businesses to not only run the service but also to carry out any improvements to the building and grounds. We can’t thank you enough.”

Halton Haven Hospice cares for people over 18 with life limiting illnesses. It provides care and support for local people and their families. The Hospice, which does not charge for any of its services, has 15 in-patient beds, a Day Hospice for 60 patients per week and a Bereavement Service.