Hospital visitors face parking charges

Parking at the hospital has caused major problems

Patients and visitors will soon have to pay to park at a north Wales hospital in an attempt to solve increasing traffic problems.

A lack of vehicle spaces at Wrexham Maelor hospital has moved from being an inconvenience to an issue of public safety, according to the North East Wales NHS Trust.

We are particularly keen to deter motorists who leave their cars at the hospital and then head off into town

Andy Scotson, NHS Trust

Cars parked on grass verges and pavements near the main entrance have caused chaos, with pedestrians being forced to negotiate their way round on the road.

The trust has now decided to implement charges on 600 spaces near the entrance.

Free parking will remain at all the other hospital car parks.

The purpose of the move is to encourage people who do not need to park near the entrance to go elsewhere.

Major problem

This would free the area for other people such as the elderly, the less mobile and those who have to keep outpatient appointments on a regular basis.

Trust spokesman Andy Scotson said: "This is a big problem which we are trying to address.

Andy Scotson: "Charges will not be punitive"

"The charges won't be punitive but they are geared towards discouraging people from parking near the entrance when they don't really need to be that close to the hospital.

"We are particularly keen to deter motorists who leave their cars at the hospital and then head off into town," he said.

"It is also hoped that staff will also park on the outskirts, hence easing the problem," he said.

Mr Scotson refuted claims that this was a tax on the elderly and the less mobile.

"We feel this will make life easier for the majority of patients," he said.

"There will be a small charge to park close to the hospital but, at present, it is nigh on impossible to park there at all.

"A better long-term remedy which might include vouchers for people who are unable to walk very far," he added.

Clamping

Mr Scotson did not rule out the possibility of clamping - which has been brought in at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor - being introduced.

"It would be silly to bring in charges and then not to make sure that people do actually pay," he said.

"It has not yet been decided whether we will do this by monitoring the car park or by clamping some vehicles."

At busy times 2,000 car parking spaces are needed - 600 for patients and 1,400 for staff.

At present there are 1,600 spaces but this is due to increase early in the new year with two new car parks being built.

One park will provide 140 spaces, while a site on the adjacent Wrexham Technology Park will lend a further 210 spaces.