9:39am Wednesday 17th March 2010
By James Maden
PARKING at Southampton General Hospital has been thrown into more chaos after residents won a five-year battle to be able to park outside their own homes.
Until now patients and staff have left their cars in St James’ Park Road, Vinery Gardens, Vinery Road and St Winifred’s Road to escape long waits and hefty charges in the hospital’s car park.
Now council chiefs have made the roads permit only zones, which are set to come into force this summer.
The move has delighted campaigners who have been fighting for residents only parking since 2005. But it is sure to worsen congestion at the General where people regularly have to queue for up to half an hour to get a space.
Campaigner Linda Haynes, 41, who lives in St James’ Park Road, said: “Good things come to those who wait, you just have to put that fight up and make it happen.”
Neighbour Claire Jordan, 24, who works at the General as a pharmacist, said the hospital should do more.
She said: “There’s not enough parking at the hospital. That’s the problem, that’s why we moved here so we could walk to work.”
Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said roads surrounding the General had become a magnet for people wanting to park. He told the Daily Echo: “I think the hospital is now waking up to the problem of parking.
“I believe that a contribution of park and ride, residential parking and more parking spaces on the hospital site will help improve the situation.
“People pay a reasonable amount for good parking facilities but the hospital could do more to help regular hospital visitors with season tickets offering reduced parking rates.”
City transport supremo Councillor Matt Dean said parking around the General had been an issue for a long time. He said: “I represent Shirley and I’m aware that this has been an issue for some years.
“I have been working in this role for two years now and a survey we completed found that 70 per cent of residents wanted a scheme like this.
“I think the answer has to be that residents have to come first although we take into account the need for businesses which we have done.”
Harry Dymond, chairman of patient watchdog Southampton Link, said his organisation, which was set up last year, had already contacted the city council and hospital to find out what is being done to resolve parking problems.
He said: “That can add to the stress of going to hospital.”
Additional reporting by Clare Kennedy
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