New parking measures for hospitals to be introduced
NUMBER plate recognition and four-hour parking limits are expected to be introduced at public car parks at Carmarthen’s Glangwili and Llanelli’s Prince Philip hospitals this summer.
The new measures are being finalised by Hywel Dda University Health Board and will be ready to be rolled out within weeks, it is expected.
The move follows the scrapping of £1 parking charges at both hospitals at the start of September last year.
In the months that followed the health board held talks over how best to manage the public carparks at both hospitals.
It is understood along with automated number plate recognition (ANPR), fixed penalty fines will be introduced for visitors and patients that overstay the four-hour limit – however there is expected to be a way of extending the time period if needed, but this has yet to be announced by health bosses.
However, it is believed the public will be given full details shortly.
In the months since the scrapping of parking charges there have been reports of people misusing the car parks at Glangwili to park for nothing and head into the town centre for work or shopping.
This has been less of an issue at Llanelli’s Prince Philip Hospital.
Gareth Skye, transport and sustainable travel manager for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “Proposals to implement car park management controls at both Glangwili and Prince Philip hospitals, which includes the use of ANPR enforcement, were approved by the health board in December and we are now working with our car park management operator to finalise arrangements for this implementation.
“The proposals will include restricting access to the public car parks for patients and visitors only. This will include the introduction of a four-hour maximum stay, with the option for patient and visitors to validate their vehicles to allow them to remain for the rest of the day.
“Arrangements for implementation are yet to be finalised and an update will be provided once we are in a position to confirm further details.”