Hospital Introduces Pay and Display

28/09/05

Cirencester Hospital is to introduce pay and display car parking for visitors from the middle of next month (October).

"We have been forced to take this step in order to ensure that everybody that visits and works in the hospital can continue to park safely and easily," said Richard James, Chief Executive of Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust.

"Unfortunately, non-hospital users already park at the hospital, and this is likely to increase as the nearby leisure centre is completed. Introducing the new parking charges will deter those who abuse the facilities and ensure that there is space for everyone who needs to park there."

Charges, which have been set in line with other local car parks, start at £1 for up to one hour and rise to a maximum £5 for a full day. There will be no charges for people with disabilities or for doctors, nurses, volunteers and support staff at the hospital.

The new venture is a partnership between Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust and Euro Car Parks, which will pay all the set up costs and provide a uniformed patrol officer.

"We have worked closely with hospitals before and understand their needs," said Michael King, New Business Manager at Euro Car Parks.

"Our patrol officers are not just there to make sure cars are parked legally. They also monitor disabled parking bays, provide assistance to elderly or disabled people using the car parks and help make the grounds safer for lone workers at the hospital.

"We have found that having a uniformed patrol officer means that there are far fewer break-ins and less car crime."

The revenue raised from the new car parking charges will be used to maintain the car parks and access roads to the hospital. Any surpluses will support patient services.