Trust reveals plans to charge for parking

The Trust has conducted an option appraisal to consider a range of options for not only the Lagan Valley but also at the Downe and Ards hospitals.

A spokesperson for the Trust explained: “The preferred option is to extend car parking charges for staff and service users to Ards Hospital, Lagan Valley Hospital and the Downe/Downshire Hospital sites in order to provide traffic management services to all of these locations.

“The Trust would intend to the use the rates at the Ulster as a starting point, but would also consider local variation. Any surplus would be used for patient care.”

The Trust has embarked on a process of formal consultation with service users, interested parties and the general public to ensure that this document is consulted upon as widely and openly as possible.

The consultation process commenced in November and will run until February 18, 2015.

Comments made during the consultation process will be considered carefully and feedback will be provided.

The Trust will also be holding a consultation meeting on the proposals in the Recreation Hall in the Lagan Valley Hospital on January 15, 2015 at 7pm.

A copy of the proposal and information on the consultation process is available on our website www.setrust.hscni.net.

For further information, or to register your attendance at a public meeting, please contact Tania Gibson Kelly House at the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald. BT16 1RH, on telephone 028 9055 0434, textphone 028 9151 0137 or email [email protected].

What do you think of the plans to charge for parking at the Lagan Valley Hospital? Do you think this is a good way of generating income for the Trust?

Will it help with traffic management at the site?

Or do you object to the proposal?

Share your views by emailing us at [email protected] or log onto our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ulsterstar.