Enormous Support for 'Fairer Treliske Hospital Parking Charges' Campaign
Leading Liberal Democrat Terrye Teverson visited Treliske hospital on Friday to gather signatures for her campaign for fairer hospital parking charges.
The current minimum charge at the hospital is £1.70 for 2 hours. Terrye Teverson believes that lesser charges - of 50p for half an hour and £1 for an hour would be fairer for people wishing to visit for more frequent, shorter periods of time.
Terrye Teverson said: "Last year my mother had a stroke and was taken to Treliske hospital. I visited her on a number of occasions throughout the day and found these charges to be very harsh. It is clear from the many people who signed this petition that they felt the same. This is hitting people when they are most vulnerable - something which I find extremely unfair. I will keep campaigning until this unfairness is recognised."
Terrye said that she had spoken to the new Chief Executive of the hospital, John Wilkinson, last year and had been told that a new pay on exit scheme was due to go in last October. Terrye commented, "I hope that when this new pay on exit goes in we also get the extra choices for parking times."
Many of the people signing the survey also said that they felt the car park operators should be more flexible when it came to issuing penalty tickets as visitors could not always be sure how long their appointment would take. This is an additional worry for patients and visitors.
There is also concern that hospitals are increasingly selling off their parking
rights to private companies who are making huge profits. The Freedom of Information act shows that the The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust - which last year made over £1 million from its car parks - sold a 15 year licence to run its car park at Treliske Hospital to Q_park Ltd of Leeds for an undisclosed fee.
Terrye concluded, "If anyone has had any experiences regarding hospital parking please write to me at 3 Charles Street, Truro.TR1 2PQ "
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For enquiries contact Sarah Barter, email: ldtrurofalmouth@yahoo.co.uk/
Telephone 01872 242493 or Terrye Teverson on 07836 752647