PROPOSALS to launch a Saturday park-and-ride scheme in a Hampshire town could be driven off the road by the cost to motorists.

Council chiefs have vowed to tackle the traffic chaos caused by the shortage of car parking spaces in Lymington, one of the busiest shopping centres in the New Forest.

But they fear drivers would shun a park-and-ride scheme because it could cost more than parking in the town centre.

John Bull, the district council’s car parking manager, told members of the planning and transport review panel: “The omens are not too encouraging.”

The only suitable site for a park-and-ride venture is the Lymington New Forest Hospital, where parking charges apply seven days a week.

With the council unable to pump large amounts of public money into the scheme users would be faced with paying bus fares and parking fees totalling £4.80.

Panel members said people could park in the town centre for as little as £2.80.

They warned that motorists would have no incentive to use the proposed park-and-ride scheme, which meant a huge number of cars would continue to pour into the main shopping area. Mr Bull said the council was holding talks with hospital bosses and bus operators in a bid to come up with a solution.

Council officers said the authority was trying to persuade Lymington Junior School to allow motorists to use its 80- space car park on Saturdays.

Other possibilities included the creation of an extra 50 spaces at Lymington Town Hall.

The hospital, which occupies part of the old Ampress site, is run by Hampshire Community Health Care.

A spokesman said the organisation was looking into the feasibility of allowing the car park to be used for a park-and-ride scheme.