Hospital car park firm stays silent over prices

NINEWELLS: Operator refuses to say if parking rates and staff fees will rise

The company in charge of the controversial Ninewells Hospital car park has refused to say if prices will rise for a fourth consecutive year.

Indigo Park Services Limited has increased costs at the Dundee NHS site every November since 2014.

The Courier has been pressing the firm to reveal its plans for this year but it has refused to respond to inquiries.

There are fears any increase could harm staff morale and lead to more workers parking on residential streets near the hospital.

Ninewells is one of only three hospital car parks in Scotland still charging for parking.

Over the course of the past decade, prices have rocketed for patients and visitors, from 60p per visit to £2.20 – an increase of 266%.

Staff have fared little better, with a yearly pass increasing from £408 to £416 last November.

Indigo also failed to respond to repeated questions about the cost of staff permits.

West End Liberal Democrat councillor Fraser Macpherson urged the company to freeze prices.

He said an increase would have an impact on staff morale and could lead to more congestion and parking problems on the streets surrounding the hospital.

Mr Macpherson said: “I would hope they are not intending to increase their charges.

“Ninewells is one of only three hospitals that charge for parking and it does not sit well, to be honest.

“I would like Indigo to choose not to increase charges this year. It is not just the cost, it is the capacity that is an issue too.”

Mr Macpherson and other councillors in the West End and Lochee are to meet NHS Tayside bosses to discuss parking at the hospital.

Scottish Conservative North East MSP Bill Bowman has also written to NHS Tayside chairman John Connell asking for a meeting.

“Ninewells is one of only three hospitals that charge for parking and it does not sit well, to be honest

Mr Bowman is concerned problems will be exacerbated by the closure of mental health services at Stracathro and Perth Royal Infirmary.

He said: “Residents have concerns about service levels and both the health board and the Scottish Government need to work this out.

“Increased car parking facilities appear to be needed and it may be useful to look at how other hospitals have solved their problem and see if their solutions could be applied to Ninewells.”

Hospital parking charges were scrapped in Scotland in 2008 but the Indigo car park at Ninewells is run under a private finance initiative (PFI), which will not expire until 2028.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh are subject to similar schemes.

Dozens of drivers face being sued over fines issued by Indigo, including three Ninewells nurses who were fined £4,000, following a decision last month by Sheriff Lorna Drummond.

pamalik@thecourier.co.uk