Hospital traffic management system begins

A Trust spokeswoman said that traffic at the hospital site has increased significantly in recent years and the additional 100 car parking spaces at Causeway Hospital will considerably improve traffic flow.

She went on to say: “Parking facilities at both our major hospitals have been abused in the past. We know of cases of hospital car parks being used by people with business elsewhere, people going shopping and, on one occasion, a car left parked while the vehicle owner went on holiday for two weeks.

“We expect the introduction of paid parking to reduce this kind of unacceptable behaviour.

“Parking tariffs have been agreed; to park for up to one hour the charge will be £1 rising by 50p for each additional hour. Pay stations will be located at the main hospital exits. All of the income generated from the traffic management scheme will be directed into patient care.

“There will be exemptions for patients/relatives attending the hospital for example cancer patients, renal patients, next of kin of those in ICU, next of kin of seriously sick patients, next of kin of neonatal patients and the parents or carers of sick children.

“Clamping will be enforced on the hospital site for those who park illegally for example in disabled spaces when they do not have a blue disabled badge, parking over two spaces or abandoning a car on the hospital site”.