Hospital CBD campaign raises questions over parking

A RECENT stay at Dunedin Hospital’s oncology department has highlighted the insensitive and meanspirited demeanour of the city council in regard to carparking. For such a busy and essential facility, there is a chronic shortage of parks. Add in miserly time limits, forcing stressed visitors to worry about having to move a car several times during visits, along with insensitive offenceoriented parking wardens, and you have a stiff civic cocktail. People, particularly from outside the city visiting patients are often stretched emotionally, timewise and economically. Being set upon by city parking ‘‘gestapo’’ just rubs salt into a raw wound.

I note with some irony that Mayor Cull is soliciting support to keep the hospital within the city’s CBD. Given the parking situation, a relocation to the suburbs might provide a more caring and flexible carparking solution for visitors. Through your columns I would like to know from the mayor what the council plans are for providing better parking facilities for the hospital, should it remain within the CBD? Fred Sutherland

Gore

[Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull replies: ‘‘We are aware that there is high demand for parking around the hospital. Transport staff are currently reviewing parking throughout the central city. This review is looking at ways to better manage parking. It will also identify opportunities for new parking spaces to help mitigate any loss of parking from other projects.

‘‘Parking limits in the area surrounding Dunedin Hospital are set to provide areas of longterm parking (Frederick St and Great King St car parks) as well as shorter term for visitors and others in the area so that parking spaces turn over and there is ongoing availability.

‘‘The city’s parking officers do a great job in a role that can at times be very difficult. Fortunately, a number of residents do appreciate the officers’ role and we have received a lot of positive feedback about their helpful and compassionate attitude in and around the hospital area, and throughout the city generally.’’]

BIBLE READING: Taste and see that the Lord is God. — Psalms 34.8.