Roads ‘blocked’ by health staff

May 30 2008 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

RESIDENTIAL streets have become a car park for hospital staff, says one man living near to the Countess of Chester.

Staff and visitors use the surrounding roads, Upton Drive, Bache Avenue, Pine Gardens, and Beechway, to park their cars instead of the hospital car park.

John Knox, of Pine Gardens, says ambulances and bin lorries cannot get past and the street sweeper is often unable to clean the pavements and roads.

He said: “Visitors are reluctant to pay for parking and medics have some issue about paying to park. As a consequence, the road cleaning machines cannot access, and the gutters and grids are full of dirt.”

Outside the shops on Mill Lane, cars regularly park illegally by the bus stop and on double yellow lines.

Hospital spokesman Stephen Winterson said: “Recently, there have been issues with visitors not being able to find a parking space for afternoon visiting, so our executives have made a decision to stagger afternoon visiting times which we believe will solve the issue and enable visitors to find spaces.

“With regards to staff parking, we have recently arranged to expand our staff car park by 55 spaces. These extra spaces will not affect visitor parking.”

Visitor car parking costs £2 per visit and car parking spaces are limited.