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Nurse fined for parking at work
8:10am Thursday 4th December 2008
NURSE Tracy Davies is calling for changes to parking restrictions at the Great Western Hospital after she and 14 colleagues were slapped with £50 fines.
Tracy finished work at 5.30pm on Tuesday to find Swindon Council, which runs the hospital’s parking enforcement, had fined her for parking her blue Volkswagen Golf in a visitors’ parking space.
The 37-year-old from Lyneham pays £60 a year for a staff parking permit but says that often she gets to work to find there are no staff spaces left.
“It is absolutely diabolical,” said Tracy, who has been a nurse for seven years.
“I wasn’t in a mother and baby space, I wasn’t in a disabled space, I was parked in one of the many empty visitors’ spaces when no staff spaces were available.
“They slapped the ticket right next to my parking permit.”
Mark Bagnall, director of estates and facilities management for the Great Western Hospital, said: “We acknowledge that at times parking can be difficult for staff and visitors. However, our parking policy is currently under review.
“Unfortunately, where drivers do park inappropriately the parking attendants do need to issue parking penalty tickets to ensure patient and visitor spaces along with emergency access is not compromised.”
The GWH car park has 1,800 spaces with 1,200 allocated for visitors and 600 for staff. But Tracy says this is not enough.
“This isn’t the first time this has happened,” she said. “I know other staff have got tickets too. There just aren’t enough spaces.”
There are approximately 3,400 staff employed at the hospital many of whom take one of the 16 buses to the hospital, cycle or car share.
But Tracy says this isn’t an option for her.
“It would take two buses to get to the hospital each day and I already pay for a parking permit. To me that means as I automatically pay for a parking space, one should be available.”
But Swindon Council says it is just following orders.
A spokesman said: “We are contracted by the hospital to enforce parking regulations in all its car parks, and we have been asked by them to issue penalty charge notices to all vehicles which are parked without a pay and display ticket in the visitor car parks, and which are without a staff permit in the staff car parks.
“Staff vehicles which are not parked in spaces designated for staff will, under the guidelines, receive a ticket. If the staff wish to challenge this they should follow the instructions on the back of the penalty charge notice.
“If there is not enough parking for hospital staff, that’s an issue for the management.”
Your Say YourSwindon
SockPuppet, Swindon says...
8:29am Thu 4 Dec 08
Not many people go to hospital for pleasure, it is an essential service and charging parking when there is very little alternative takes the p**s!
Meldres Dad, Wroughton says...
8:33am Thu 4 Dec 08
Always Grumpy, Swindon says...
9:05am Thu 4 Dec 08
With travel times well in excess of an hour from even North Swindon to the hospital, is it any wonder people avoid using buses in favour of using a car?
There's plenty of land between Coate and the hospital that could easily be concreted over for parking. Problem solved.
Even Angrier Monkey, Swindon says...
11:11am Thu 4 Dec 08
Luncacy. It dosnt work like that. People have busy lives and dont have an hour to waste getting the bus when you can get there in 15 mins in a car.
Robh, Swindon says...
11:26am Thu 4 Dec 08
thutch, Highworth says...
11:35am Thu 4 Dec 08
Swindon born n bred, Swindon says...
12:42pm Thu 4 Dec 08
a) deter commuters from using cheap parking and busing in to town
2) generate revenue
The JR in Oxford provides the first 30 mins without charge and then has a low rate (for a city facility)
Perhaps GWH in conjunction with the bus companies should put their thinking caps on.
For example, a return ticket bought in the town centre or elsewhere en-route should be cheap. They could differentially charge by making return tickets bought from the GWH at peak congestion times prohibitively expensive to deter commuters.
Yes, it has a few wrinkles but I'm sure if they threw a few thousand £s at consultants that a workable solution could be reached. It isn't rocket science to think a little outside of the box, have an idea shower and take an holistic approach to reach a new paradigm vis a vis Hospital and Transportation and key stakeholders to better incentivise those involved and ensure that all of our ducks are in a row and we are singing from the same hymn sheet.
malkym1, Highworth on the Hill says...
12:45pm Thu 4 Dec 08
strattonmidge, Stratton says...
3:56pm Thu 4 Dec 08
For crying out loud GWH - you want your staff to work - provide us with more parking!! Make the whole of the North car park staff only. I have yet to see visitors cruising around three car parks for 30 minutes, desperately trying to find a space so they are not late for an appointment. Yet this is what I am frequently forced to do when I work a late shift.
Even Angrier Monkey, Swindon says...
5:01pm Thu 4 Dec 08
Swindon born n bred wrote:Fantastic post, I especially enjoyed your blue sky thinking in the final paragraph.
As far as I recall, parking charges are high to a) deter commuters from using cheap parking and busing in to town 2) generate revenue The JR in Oxford provides the first 30 mins without charge and then has a low rate (for a city facility) Perhaps GWH in conjunction with the bus companies should put their thinking caps on. For example, a return ticket bought in the town centre or elsewhere en-route should be cheap. They could differentially charge by making return tickets bought from the GWH at peak congestion times prohibitively expensive to deter commuters. Yes, it has a few wrinkles but I'm sure if they threw a few thousand £s at consultants that a workable solution could be reached. It isn't rocket science to think a little outside of the box, have an idea shower and take an holistic approach to reach a new paradigm vis a vis Hospital and Transportation and key stakeholders to better incentivise those involved and ensure that all of our ducks are in a row and we are singing from the same hymn sheet.
flicky, Swindon says...
5:36pm Thu 4 Dec 08
Always Grumpy wrote:For goodness sake, Mr Grumpy, give it a rest!
Wasn't it a Swindon Labour council that put restrictions on the number of parking spaces at the hospital? With travel times well in excess of an hour from even North Swindon to the hospital, is it any wonder people avoid using buses in favour of using a car? There's plenty of land between Coate and the hospital that could easily be concreted over for parking. Problem solved.
What you're suggesting is hardly likely to happen,now, is it?
Did you know that the Save Coate campaign have acquired even more "celebrity "approval, which you may read about next week!
WATCH THIS SPACE!!
flicky, Swindon says...
5:42pm Thu 4 Dec 08
After all they are desperate for staff to turn up for work. Surely there must be room for another car park to be available?
Right from the start the new Hospital has been sadly lacking in parking spaces.Surely sorting out the problem must be in SOMEONE'S job description?
Always Grumpy, Swindon says...
6:52pm Thu 4 Dec 08
flicky wrote:Yes, there is space, plenty of it. It's in the fields between Coate and the hospital.
It is ridiculous that management have not sorted this problem of staff parking since the building of GWH.
After all they are desperate for staff to turn up for work. Surely there must be room for another car park to be available?
Right from the start the new Hospital has been sadly lacking in parking spaces.Surely sorting out the problem must be in SOMEONE'S job description?
Why don't you start a petition to use that land for parking? You might even be able to get a celebrity to sign it!
flicky, Swindon says...
7:43pm Thu 4 Dec 08
Always Grumpy wrote:Which inevitable woman am I to face, Grumpy? Is it Jean Saunders or the latest "celebrity?"?
flicky wrote:Your obviously not going to let it rest, so neither will I. Roll out your so called celebrities, it won't make an atom of difference. In the long run that land will be developed - face the inevitable woman.Always Grumpy wrote: Wasn't it a Swindon Labour council that put restrictions on the number of parking spaces at the hospital? With travel times well in excess of an hour from even North Swindon to the hospital, is it any wonder people avoid using buses in favour of using a car? There's plenty of land between Coate and the hospital that could easily be concreted over for parking. Problem solved.For goodness sake, Mr Grumpy, give it a rest! What you're suggesting is hardly likely to happen,now, is it? Did you know that the Save Coate campaign have acquired even more "celebrity "approval, which you may read about next week! WATCH THIS SPACE!!
docklander2, swindon says...
8:57pm Thu 4 Dec 08
flicky, Swindon says...
10:23pm Thu 4 Dec 08
Now I understand what you mean!
Since you mention Jean Saunders, I have to say she has been EXTREMELY busy on VERY important business at the Hospital, about which I can't divulge anything. Too hush-hush. Sorry!
Nice to hear that she is still in your thoughts, though. That would bring a smile to her face.
Always Grumpy, Swindon says...
10:43pm Thu 4 Dec 08
flicky wrote:I don't believe it, is she going to start a petition to build a car park on the waste land between Coate and the hospital?
That comma was pretty important, Mr Grumpy.
Now I understand what you mean!
Since you mention Jean Saunders, I have to say she has been EXTREMELY busy on VERY important business at the Hospital, about which I can't divulge anything. Too hush-hush. Sorry!
Nice to hear that she is still in your thoughts, though. That would bring a smile to her face.
Captain Sensible, Near Highworth says...
10:45pm Thu 4 Dec 08
malkym1, Highworth on the Hill says...
11:29pm Thu 4 Dec 08
flicky, Swindon says...
9:35am Fri 5 Dec 08
Always Grumpy, Swindon says...
11:16am Fri 5 Dec 08
flicky wrote:I won't hold my breath, although I suspect you would like me to!
You will have to wait and see!
who dat?, Swindon says...
12:30pm Fri 5 Dec 08
Management ??? - at the GWH????
You are having a laugh!!!!
Breweries and p*ss ups spring to mind!!
flicky, Swindon says...
2:05pm Fri 5 Dec 08
Always Grumpy wrote:Mr Grumpy, Whatever made you say that?
flicky wrote: You will have to wait and see!I won't hold my breath, although I suspect you would like me to!
I'm sure you are really a sweet old thing, not the character your name implies.
Always Grumpy, Swindon says...
7:04pm Fri 5 Dec 08
flicky wrote:That's at least the third thing you've got wrong on this particular story then!
Always Grumpy wrote:Mr Grumpy, Whatever made you say that?
flicky wrote: You will have to wait and see!I won't hold my breath, although I suspect you would like me to!
I'm sure you are really a sweet old thing, not the character your name implies.
flicky, Swindon says...
8:31pm Fri 5 Dec 08
Always Grumpy wrote:How can I take you seriously, Mr Grumpy?
flicky wrote:That's at least the third thing you've got wrong on this particular story then!Always Grumpy wrote:Mr Grumpy, Whatever made you say that? I'm sure you are really a sweet old thing, not the character your name implies.flicky wrote: You will have to wait and see!I won't hold my breath, although I suspect you would like me to!
Or, if, as you say, I have got it wrong, is it because you are a ....Woman? In which case it would have to be.... Mrs Grumpy!
Back to GWH...no doubt someone might now begin to sort out the mess that is parking in the near future.
So well done, Tracey Davies, for alerting the Advertiser over the situation.
I thought that free parking at GWH was being considered for all??
Always Grumpy, Swindon says...
9:37pm Fri 5 Dec 08
flicky wrote:Four things!
Always Grumpy wrote:How can I take you seriously, Mr Grumpy?
flicky wrote:That's at least the third thing you've got wrong on this particular story then!Always Grumpy wrote:Mr Grumpy, Whatever made you say that? I'm sure you are really a sweet old thing, not the character your name implies.flicky wrote: You will have to wait and see!I won't hold my breath, although I suspect you would like me to!
Or, if, as you say, I have got it wrong, is it because you are a ....Woman? In which case it would have to be.... Mrs Grumpy!
Back to GWH...no doubt someone might now begin to sort out the mess that is parking in the near future.
So well done, Tracey Davies, for alerting the Advertiser over the situation.
I thought that free parking at GWH was being considered for all??
Bobfm, South Marston says...
2:09pm Sat 6 Dec 08
I had to park on the far side of the complex beyond the A&E and there were literally dozens of available places in addition to which there were simply loads of 'mother' parking available, and disabled bays.
In my humble opinion, whilst I agree there should not be charges, is this not a case of a member of staff just not wishing to walk to far, or being 'just on time' for work. Also if you know an patient or visitor is find when in a staff bay, why shouldn't the staff be fined for the same thing. Simple solution really PAY.
Your sayYourSwindon
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Tracy Davies with the ticket she received at GWH
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Opinionated Wench, Swindon says...
8:14am Thu 4 Dec 08