Councillor has wrong end of stick on PRI parking

Dec 13 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

NHS TAYSIDE says a Tory stalwart is barking up the wrong tree claiming car parking fees may be reintroduced at hospitals.

Following through with a pre-election pledge, the SNP government abolished car parking charges at 14 hospitals – including Perth Royal Infirmary – in early 2009.

Fees, however, remained in place at Ninewells in Dundee and at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary, where car parks are operated by a private firm.

But recent media coverage about Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – where some outpatients are missing appointments as they cannot find parking spots – suggests unions and a patients’ association wants the blanket ban on parking fees lifted.

These reports have clearly rattled the cage of Councillor Alexander Stewart, leader of Perth and Kinross Council’s Conservative group, whose ward includes the PRI.

“I am absolutely horrified to hear that car parking charges at NHS sites in Scotland may be reintroduced,” he said.

He explained that abolishing the charges in 2009 had been a major step forward as many people attending hospital sites, either for treatment or to visit patients, had been hit hard in their hip pockets.

“I fought long and hard to ensure that these charges were abolished at Perth Royal Infirmary and I have to congratulate the management team at PRI who have done all within their power to ensure that, as far as possible, this site is managed successfully as required by the Scottish Government,” he said.

But an NHS Tayside spokeswoman said that Cllr Stewart was mistaken as there were no plans in the pipeline to reintroduce parking charges at PRI.

“Yes, the councillor does appear to be barking up the wrong tree,” she said.

She said that unlike the scenario at Aberdeen, there were no pertinent car parking issues at PRI, where the £1.20 per day vehicle fee was removed in 2009.

At PRI, patients and visitors can now park for up to three hours, while staff use nine-hour limit bays, with the operation managed by Town and City Parking.

“So it’s free to park but you need to stick to the time limit and some people who don’t can receive fines for staying longer than that or for parking outside the designated bays,” she said.

“We have no major issues with car parking in Perth, unlike in Aberdeen where it appears to be a free for all.”

Cllr Stewart said on some days due to specific clinics at the PRI there were more vehicles requiring parking spots, but any issues were “on the whole” well managed.

“There is still a knock-on effect on residents in surrounding streets but their concerns have been addressed and parking restrictions are now in the pipeline,” he said.

“The provision of a bus supported by NHS Tayside and Perth and Kinross Council, which now transports in excess of 1000 patients, staff, doctors, nurses and visitors on a weekly basis, has been a great success.

“This has greatly alleviated parking at the PRI site as people leave their cars at home and make good use of this service.”

Meanwhile, NHS Grampian has reviewed a car parking management policy at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and will implement changes next April.