Tycoon wants car park built near Russells Hall Hospital 'as soon as possible'

Property tycoon Roy Richardson, who founded Merry Hill shopping centre, wants to build the car park on land he owns off the A4101 High Street - opposite the hospital - to offer low-cost parking and help clear surrounding streets which are often clogged with cars.

Mr Richardson, aged 87, revealed he had held discussions with Dudley politicians over the plans and said he was keen to get the project moving.

He said he hoped it could be built 'within 12 months'.

Mr Richardson owns the piece of land next to Servosteel on the main road next to the hospital and has met with council bosses to gauge opinion on the plan. But he said he did not want to wait much longer before applying for planning permission.

The magnate, who is among the richest people in the Midlands, said: "There has been a couple of meetings. It looks as though it is going to move forward.

"We want to make sure we are aware of objections, if there are to be any, before we go to planning."

The wealthy businessman, whose family is reported to be worth £450 million, has said he would want the car park to have low charges as he was unhappy at how much patients and visitors have to pay to visit hospitals.

He is also hopeful his venture could help solve problems for frustrated residents who live on side streets near Russells Hall and have had to put up with cars parked outside their homes for years.

Mr Richardson, who along with twin brother Don led the development of Merry Hill in the 1980s, told the Express & Star last year: "Developments we have done have always had free parking.

"Quite frankly, once people have paid tax on their car they don't want to be penalised by car parking penalties, particularly at hospitals."

The Dudley Group NHS Trust, which runs Russells Hall, has yet to comment on whether it would be opposed to a car park being built so close.