Parking Charges

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas 🎄.

My annual rant, watching the news and hospital parking charging came up. As usual my local hospital came top of the pops ☹️. They now charge for Blue Badges.

Mark

[GrandmaDylan]

My local hospital doesn't charge for blue badges thank goodness as I'm there such a lot but Salford Royal charges for blue badges but you need to allow and hour or more to get into the car park and then do hunt the parking space. I think it's obscene to charge for hospital parking, no one would choose to spend time at the hospital if they could avoid it.

[PeterP54 in reply to GrandmaDylan]

Have you tried the Pay and Display on Stott Lane? Never had any queuing or space problems there but it is a bit further to walk and the hill, though short, is quite steep.

[Hidden in reply to PeterP54]

Hills and walking are a problem, the blue badge gives 24 hours for £4, now the Urology department work is done, 56 Blue Badge spaces back. Thanks for the tip and though, I will check it out.

[mncold]

Hi Mark,

Here in the US, we get charged at some hospitals, not all , although the hubby and I don't have a handicap hanger. They will give you a stamp that gives you a discount off the cost usually, unless you use the valet service. I just hope the money goes to keeping the parking safe LOL.

Wishing you a Happy and healthy New Year.

Mary

[Hidden in reply to mncold]

Mary,

You have more land than us, we are a small Island. My hospital is the most expensive one in England, Valet parking, lol 😂 .

The rationale is that the money goes back into the NHS, the parking operators are private companies in a monopoly position, who wants to be there. Even the staff have to pay. I wonder how much the Chief Exec. pays his/herself?

My finest wishes for your 2019 and look forward to hearing improved news, hopefully.

Mark

[mncold in reply to Hidden]

Hi Mark,

Funny how both of us wonder how much the Chief Exec gets paid, I also wonder if the CE has to pay or only the minions?.

You are a small island and we are much bigger - but I sometimes think our cities are trying to catch up. We now live near a big city and I'm more of a small town girl

Take care of yourself,

Mary

[PeterP54]

Difficult one this. If the hospital is near a town centre or transport hub the car park would no doubt fill up with with shoppers and commuters. Some sort of voucher system could operate but this would likely be expensive to operate.

Some years after my transplant at St James I got lymphoma due to azathioprine. I chose to be treated for the cancer at St James. On the days I received chemotherapy, I got a voucher and could park for free but on clinic days for blood tests and consultation I had to pay for parking. Always found that curious.

[Hidden in reply to PeterP54]

Ah, you are not talking the Royal Surrey?

[PeterP54 in reply to Hidden]

Hi

I have appointments at Salford Royal where the pay and display car park and hill are and also St James in Leeds, so not the Royal Surrey.

[Hidden in reply to PeterP54]

The Royal Surrey remains the most expensive in England.

[PeterP54 in reply to Hidden]

I am surprised but then I do not know Guildford well. I would have thought that a Central London hospital would be the most expensive but then perhaps they have no car parking at all.

It usually costs me £2-£3 at St James and the same at Salford Royal for clinic appointments but the costs escalate for longer stays.

[Hidden]

In a stunning move, the Trust or Parking company bought the land behind the hospital. It was to build a multi story with emergency helicopter landing on top. A very minor over site, no planning permission.

[Radnor]

Its surprising hhow many people still think a ticket issed by a private parking company can be ignored! For the past 4 years I was a parking warrior lol. God hospitals at least use barrier timed parking. Some have gestapo type wardens or ANPR cameras. Time starts the second you pass the camera, even if it takes half an hour to find a space! The very worst hospital story was a guy who drove himself to A & E. He even managed to purchase a ticket. He was having a heart attack and sadly died. Obviously his poor wife didnt even concern herself where his car was. A few days later she went to collect the car. As she tried to drive out the barrier stayed firmly closed. She created a queue so had to move. She rang the Parking company and was told she had to pay £64 before the barrier would open!!! This was one occasion when all the appeal procedures were overridden, TV,local radio and the press joined forces After so much bad publicity, the car was released. Private Parking is a multi million pound business, They only have to provide disability spaces, but Blue Badge holders are not exempt. Many supermarkets use them, they want you to ignore them, even though there is an appeal process. They do do court and a lot of people have had ccj's as a result. DVLA provide them with your name and address, There are movements ongoing at Westminster to clean up this industry, but as usual the wheels are slow. I am on a sabbatical at present, I was addicted to this, but I am happy to point people in the right direction to get help if needed.

[bantam12 in reply to Radnor]

Private tickets can be ignored, you just have to be strong and not cave in !

[Radnor in reply to bantam12]

Your free to think that, however I truly hope no one believes what your saying. Read the law, POFA 2012, Clamping became illegal and in its place the clampers were given a right,subject to conditions, to be given the names and addresses of vehicle owners. better still go park on Aldi whhere Parking Eye operate. Stay 30 minutes longer than the specified time, see what happens. Good luck, you will need it lol

[Hidden in reply to Radnor]

I've parked at Aldi a few of times for several hours. Received at least 3 tickets that kept getting increasingly threatening, then nothing. This was 3 years ago. Unless I get a court order, I'm not paying a penny!

[bantam12 in reply to Hidden]

Yep we've ignored 2 tickets, they give up eventually.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Several hours in Aldi, no surprise you can afford an accountant. 🤗

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

One of my mates lived behind their car park and had no parking. Damn those Xbox sessions 😂. Shopping there is soul destroying! Having to hear the staff shouting across tills about their fag breaks and being rushed like cattle when packing the groceries. M&S and Waitrose is where I like to splash the cash 😄

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Soul destroying? It should come with a health assessment.

[Hidden in reply to bantam12]

Are you serious????

[GrandmaDylan in reply to Radnor]

Hi Radnor, long time no see! How are you? I'm back at Salford Royal on the 20th of February, perhaps you'll be there?

[Radnor in reply to GrandmaDylan]

5/3 for me. Bugger lol. I asked them to leave my appointment until as I wanted to know exactly where my liver was up to. I dont want any meds likely to affect my liver. They have been brilliant and provided every scan and test I have had to take to Liverpool. Saved me trying to get my story in the right order too. Managing to stick to my Keto diet, my only carbs have been a teaspoon of sugar in tea and coffee. I paid a fortune for the supposed no aftertaste , I could taste it and not sweet either! £13 for 235gm - At least Dick Turpin wore a mask! Gone from 3 to one sugar so next step is half a spoonful. Unsweetened almond milk tastes ok.I resisted all carbs at 2 get togethers, No idea if its working weight wise, I am waiting I go back to Lpool on 23/1. Can you see the difference in your skin? Hope you find the Stott Lane Car Park this time. Its a lot closer to Dermatology from there and dont forget change. Pay on arrival unlike the hospital car parks. Try not to use the card set up they have, its a pain and they tried to charge me for 24 hours! know your reg too lol .Usually more than one pay meter is u/s too so find one working then park up. Hope it goes well for you treatment wise, Hope we both have a healthier New year Hazelx

[bantam12]

We've ignored two tickets from Parking Eye right up to the one that threatens court, nothing happened from then on !

[Radnor in reply to bantam12]

They have up to 6 years to act. They are the Part of Capita, .wealthiest private parking company, Aldi was only a suggestion, M& S also use PPCs. A lot of pensioners cannot afford Waitrose, What ever, I know how many people who have been hit hard, many also thought they could just ignore. Some only found out when they applied for a mortgage - CCJ will throw a spanner in it.