It’s full steam ahead for plans to ease parking issues at Glangwili Hospital thanks to a new agreement between Hywel Dda University Health Board and the Gwili Railway Company.

The health board has been working closely with the popular tourist attraction which officially opened its new car park to Gwili Railway visitors this month.

The extra spaces will be released in phases from September 2 and by the end of September 144 extra spaces will be available for Hywel Dda staff from Monday to Friday. At the weekend the spaces will be used by visitors to the Gwili Railway.

The car and coach park is part of Gwili Railway’s work on a southern extension to the line to the former Abergwili junction which opened in 2017.

Andrew Carruthers, chief operating officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “This is an excellent example of how working in partnership with well-known and respected local organisations can provide some really great results.

“We have been working closely with the Gwili Railway Company on the development of a joint car parking solution that will see the introduction of 144 staff-only parking spaces at their site adjacent to the Glangwili General Hospital site.

“Now that these spaces are available, we will reserve the top car park – which has 64 spaces - exclusively for patients.

“These changes will support an improvement in the flow of traffic at the front of the site and make parking easier for patients.

“I would like to thank the Gwili Railway Company for working with us and giving us the opportunity to improve parking facilities for staff and in turn, visitors and patients.

"I’m sure this will make a big difference to their experience while receiving care at our busy Glangwili site."

Mr Carruthers also thanked Carmarthenshire County Council for its support during the planning process.

Janet MacKrell, a Macmillan urology cancer support worker who travels to Glangwili Hospital every day from Newcastle Emlyn, said: “My son also works at Glangwili and we car share but trying to find a car parking space is very stressful.

“Having these extra staff parking spaces will make such a difference. We won’t be forced to come in early to get a parking space. We can go for a personal appointments – the dentist, for instance - in the middle of the day and not worry about parking when we get back."

Mathew Bowen, chairman of the Gwili Railway Company said: “The Gwili Railway Company is pleased to be able to assist Hywel Dda University Health Board and the local community in easing the parking issues at Glangwili Hospital."