Solution demanded for hospital parking chaos
Richard Cutcher • Published 25 Jun 2012 06:30
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PARKING at Wexham Park Hospital has been slammed as "appalling" by its chief executive.
Philippa Slinger, chief executive of Heatherwood and Wexham Park NHS Foundation Trust, gave a damming appraisal of the notoriously infuriating parking arrangements on the Wexham Road site when answering questions at a Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead health scrutiny panel meeting on Tuesday night.
Representatives from NHS Berkshire were outlining their 'Shaping the future of healthcare in East Berkshire' vision which will go to public consultation in Autumn, but members of the panel emphasised the need to solve the long-standing parking problems before embarking on ambitious re-organisation plans.
Mrs Slinger said: "Our parking management is appalling at Wexham Park. You are right to bring it up and I will go back and demand to get more active parking wardens in place."
The chief executive did not rule out the idea of a park and ride scheme being introduced to ease the congestion and said discussions on how best to address the problem were ongoing with Slough Borough Council.
She added: "I don't know if we have examined a park and ride before. My sense is the local authority is very unhappy about bringing hundreds of more cars on site, but a solution is needed."
The congestion is being eased by parking, not managed by the hospital or the council, on green belt land off Wexham Street, but South Bucks District Council has served two enforcement notices on the landowner to have the parking stopped.
The case is due to be heard at Wycombe Magistrates Court on Monday.
Councillor Cynthia Endacott, who represents the Clewer North ward in the Royal Borough, said implementing measures similar to those in place at King Edward VII Hospital, in St Leonard's Road, Windsor, would be beneficial.
Cllr Endacott said: "The wardens at Kind Edward VII are so helpful and will direct you to where there are spaces if you are struggling."
NHS Berkshire's vision for improving services in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead include a £35m refurbishment of Wexham Park Hospital and the construction of a modern surgical unit at Heatherwood Hospital, in Ascot.
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JUDGE1066
305 posts
Jun 25, 12:01
Report commentGet Swindlehurst on the case, hike up parking fees, charge massive fees for the park and ride to pay for a Kidney of Slough ( you've had the Heart) in Wexham, job done, whatever happens this will not benefit people in hospital, their visitors or infrequant vistors or anyone else in Slough except for the Council or the Foundation Trust, trust me!
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Yes 13
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FishyPete
5 posts
Jun 25, 19:26
Report commentIf you drive towards the "Wexham" round-about turn left by the Post Office you will see the same cars parked along that stretch of road as they did by the cricket club & Red Lion almost every day all day. This suggests to me that part of the problem is the hostpital work-force parking outside of the the hostpital grounds.............plus the odd taxi blocking the parking for the Post Office........
Recommend? Yes 5
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Curiousclive
4 posts
Jan 21, 19:51
Report commentrather than commissioning more traffic wardens to rob the motorist visiting their relatives in hospital why not build more car parking space. Better still allow the good person who made a cheap car park in a field opposite the hospital continue and drop the stupid penalties he is charged with for using his own property to help others.
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