Parking wardens employed to enforce new hospital charges

A PARKING purge has begun at two seaside town hospitals with patients, families, and visitors who ignore the restrictions facing stinging fines of up to £60.

Scarborough's NHS Trust said the enforcement measures at the Scarborough and Bridlington sites were needed for safety reasons.

It claims that careless parking in the grounds of both hospitals has created access problems for buses and other congestion hazards.

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Since the trust agreed to charge for parking, enforcement has been patchy.

But now Liam Dealtry and Debbie Tyson have joined the trust as car parking attendants working on both sites at Scarborough and Bridlington.

Initially, they will issue warning notices to those who park improperly or without payment.

However, from Tuesday February 1 they will begin issuing enforcement notices.

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Penalty charges will be 60, or 30 if paid within 14 days, and will be administered by an external company.

James Hayward, director of facilities, explained: "The trust has received many comments from patients, visitors, bus companies and staff regarding the difficult and sometimes dangerous parking at Scarborough Hospital.

"Recently many buses and delivery vehicles have found it difficult to navigate the roads around the hospital due to improper parking.

"In order to improve the safety of both drivers and pedestrians we decided to introduce proper management controls, which includes the creation of two car park attendant roles.

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"We know, from talking to local people, that car parking and access to hospital is an important issue. Our travel plan aims to help reduce car parking demand and traffic congestion on site.

"As part of this plan we are working with East Yorkshire Motor Services to encourage more people to use the number 10 hospital bus service which operates twice an hour.

"We also have a shuttle bus for patients and visitors which runs between Scarborough and Bridlington hospitals."

Scarborough Hospital has one of the town's biggest pay and display car parks with 600 spaces, and even those visiting the accident and emergency (A&E) unit are expected to find the right change.

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The Scarborough trust began drawing up plans to impose the charges during the early 1990s but the proposals faced a chorus of opposition.

Following the protests – and police warnings of traffic chaos in the streets surrounding the hospital as visitors decided to park elsewhere – the trust withdrew the idea.

But a car parking survey in 2005-6 as part of a draft travel plan showed that the car park was oversubscribed for 5.5 hours a day.

It also revealed that 54 per cent of all vehicles belonged to NHS staff and 58 per cent of all vehicles parked off site in Woodlands Drive were connected to the hospital.

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The new measures will do nothing to stop parking overspill into the residential area because the trust says the two officers will just patrol its own hospital car parks and the roads on site.

The one-hour tariff for an hour's parking by patients and visitors rose by 20p to 1.20 in 2009. That price was pegged in 2010 when the fees were reviewed last April, as was the two hour price (2.50) – frozen for the second year running.

However, a new three-hour charge was introduced for 3.50, and four hours for 4.50, replacing a previous blanket 3 fee for three to four hours.

The cost of more than four hours parking has been 6 since 2010 – 1 up on the previous financial year.

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However, trust bosses have underlined car parking concessions are available to patients visiting the hospital for treatment three or more times a week.

Free parking is also available to visitors if they have a relative in hospital for more than five days. Anyone who wants further information can ask at the main reception, speak to ward staff or contact PALS on 01723 342434.