There are fears a council's "sledgehammer approach" to planned parking restrictions will badly affect patients and staff at a town's hospital.

Proposals for the introduction of permit parking in residential streets west of Radnor Park in Folkestone have been met with opposition from doctors - as well as other organisations and people living nearby.

The streets which would be included in the expanded parking zone are often used by the those visiting the Royal Victoria Hospital - which has a busy walk-in centre - and by staff working there.

One doctor, instructed by the East Kent Hospitals Trust, has written to Folkestone and Hythe District Council "reiterating the difficulties staff and patients are likely to face if the proposals are implemented".

The consultant's comments came in a previous informal consultation over the plans. The Trust has told KentOnline it remains opposed to the plans and has communicated this in the latest round of consultation.

Meanwhile, Tessa Stickler, who is general manager at the nearby Folkestone Sports Centre Trust, has also warned the plans will be a "further nail in the coffin" of her charity-run sports centre.

Although the centre in Radnor Park Avenue - which is home to a gym, swimming pool, ski slope and other sporting facilities - has its own parking, many users leave their cars in nearby roads during busier times of the day.

The charitable trust which operates the facilities is already struggling to stay afloat financially, and Ms Stickler fears for the sustainability of its post-pandemic recovery if restrictions are imposed.

"It's going to be extremely difficult for us," she said.

"Daytime isn't too bad, but in the evening we get extremely busy from 5pm onward and our car parks fill up.

"Take a scenario - somebody's coming here to do a spin class, and they drive round and round and round and can't park. They're going to say 'I can't bothered with this' and they'll go.

"It's a struggle at the moment as it is to cover the costs that we have, whether it's staffing or utilities or insurance. And every time somebody drives away from here because they can't park anywhere it's going to be further nail in the coffin."

Ms Stickler also says she feels the views of sports centre users, who may be unaware of the plans and the consultation, will go unheard.

It is understood residents living nearer Folkestone Central station have long been frustrated with commuters parking in their streets to avoid paying for station car parking. This is thought to have led to complaints to the district council, asking for action to be taken.

But those living in roads further away from the station believe the introduction of permit parking through the main part of the day, seven days a week, is an overreaction. They fear it will harm local amenities such as the sports centre and the bowls club in Radnor Park.

Residents believe a short no-parking restriction first thing on weekdays could resolve the commuter issue, rather than a blanket prohibition.

Meena Bhanji, who lives in Radnor Park West, said: "You only need it to be just that little gap where people are getting on trains, 7am to 9am.

"If they really have to do it for these reasons, why aren't they thinking outside the box and saying 'we can actually approach it in this manner where we have a two-hour ban, but after that anyone can park?'

"It's a sledgehammer approach, seven days a week."

The scheme would see the whole of Avereng Gardens and almost all of Avereng Road become permit parking-only.

Meanwhile in Radnor Park Avenue, where the Royal Victoria Hospital is located, people would only be allowed to park for two hours - between 8am and 6pm - unless they have a permit.

There are concerns over what the impact would be if the waiting time at the minor injuries unit was longer than two hours.

There is also a unit for pre- and post-natal care at the hospital - with heavily pregnant women and new mums potentially facing added difficulty parking nearby under the new system.

The two-hour limit would also apply to Julian Road, Radnor Park West, Wilton Road and stretches of Cheriton Road.

In the previous consultation, concerns were also raised about about the negative effect on parking for Three Hills, Folkestone Cricket Club, Folkestone Invicta Football Club, the proposed Athletics Club, and "frequent events and playtime" on Radnor Park.

The area is also popular with anglers fishing in Radnor Park pond.

Under the proposals, which are currently subject to a statutory consultation, residents would have to pay £35 a year for a parking permit, with businesses charged £65.

Each household would be able to apply for up to 100 visitor permits per year, at a cost of £6 for five parking sessions.

An FHDC spokesman said: "Having received an application from residents calling for parking controls to be introduced in roads west of Radnor Park, we carried out an informal consultation earlier this year.

"The responses were mixed but a majority indicated support for the extension of the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ).

"A formal consultation on the proposed traffic regulation is now being held. Comments received will be analysed before a final decision is made by the cabinet member for transport.

"The sports centre's comments will be considered as coming from a business/organisation, i.e. a major stakeholder."