More park-and-ride options

First there was one, then there were three. Patients and visitors to Christchurch Hospital are spoiled for choice when it comes to hospital park-and-rides.

Until recently, the only option was the Deans Ave car park run by Global Edge Properties, with the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) running a free shuttle.

However, the state of the car park prompted the CDHB to end the deal. It struck a $1-a-year deal with Christchurch City Council and from Monday the shuttle started running from the Lichfield St car parking building.

Meanwhile, restaurateur Nattachai Chang rat tan a chai-chok started his own park-and-ride service from a multi-storey car park about one kilometre from the hospital, on Bartlett St, behind his Thai Chef’s restaurant.

Deans Ave parking remains open with 450 spaces. Global Edge director Alan Edge said the service was ‘‘alive and kicking’’ after he contracted a shuttle. He was continuing because of ‘‘all the good feedback I’ve had’’.

He continues to charge $5 a day but said prices may rise. The free shuttle runs about four times an hour between 7am and 7.30pm, Monday to Saturday.

The 100-space Bartlett St carpark charges $5 between 7am and 2pm, or 2pm and 11pm.

For the CDHB, it seems to be a case of ‘the more the merrier’.

Support services manager Rachel Cadle said the CDHB’s objective was to get patients to appointments and help people visit loved ones, and ‘‘if alternative providers are able to help this happen that can have nothing but a positive outcome’’.

However, the hospital campus’ management team was meeting later in the week to review the situation.