Hospital parking charge axe supported
“I would hate to be in a situation where families could not park and visit OCHDALE councilloved ones because the car lors have backed park is full all day,” he said. calls to scrap hospi“I would like to see an tal parking charges - and hit intuitive solution investiout at ‘profiteering’ private gated where a diverse mix firms. of time-limited free-parking
It remains a contentious and long-stay parking is issue in the borough, with implemented. Of course councillors in Rochdale consideration should be North still at odds with their given to families visiting counterparts in Heywood loved ones, receiving end of over how to deal with streetlife care, for example.” parking spilling over from And in a clear break from Fairfield Hospital. Labour’s position, he told
Heywood councillors patients and visitors are not the meeting that bringing in want proposals for double paid to the NHS, but to outoutside firms to manage yellow lines to be revised to side private providers. parking was ‘ not a bad cover a smaller area, but the “For example at Rochthing’ where hospital trusts disagreement is still to be dale Infirmary it is Imperial lacked the in-house expertise.fullyresolved.civilenforcementsolu
However, Coun Danny tions Ltd. This is wrong.” However, Coun Meredith Meredith, cabinet member Coun Meredith told the rejected the amendment on for highways, says there’s a meeting his colleagues in the grounds that Labour far more fundamental issue Wales and Scotland - where opposed ‘profiteering’ and at play - the lack of free hospital parking is free - see wanted hospital parking parking for hospital staff it as being essential to staff charges scrapped. The Conand visitors. morale and wellbeing. servatives, he said,
His motion calling for the But while the Conservaappeared to be proposing government to scrap NHS tive group agreed with the ‘different solutions’. hospital parking charges ‘sentiment’ of Coun MereThe Conservative across the country was dith’s motion, they warned amendment was defeated backed - albeit not unaniit could have ‘unintended after being put to the vote, mously - at a full meeting of consequences’. with the original Labour Rochdale council. Coun Stephen Anstee motion then being carried.
Coun Meredith - who is a tabled an amendment Conservatives members trained nurse - said staff at which instead called for ‘a abstained on the Labour Rochdale Infirmary had to diverse mix of parking solumotion, but there were still pay more than £300 a year tions for visitors and, where enough votes to see it pass. for permits, despite spaces possible, an adequate numIt means council chief being under-used by visiber of parking spaces for executive Steve Rumbelow tors. He said: “Imagine front line staff’. will now write to the govwhat this £300 a year can do He told the meeting that ernment urging the scrapfor the lowest paid worker unlimited free parking ping of NHS hospital parkwithin the health service. could make it harder for ing charges. He will also
“Let’s not be fooled, parkpeople to find spaces, as it seek the support of the ing charges - including encourages people to leave Northern Care Alliance’s parking fines - for staff, their cars for the whole day. chief executive.
Return coach travel 2 nights at a selected 2 or 3-star hotel with dinner & breakfast Free excursion to the York St Nicholas Fayre Included visits to Harrogate & Skipton Christmas Market
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