Progress made with Claremont parking issue

A long-running dispute over parking in the residential area near Claremont Hospital has moved closer to being resolved.

Staff from the hospital have been leaving their cars on nearby roads leading to claims by residents of blocked driveways and on one occasion an ambulance being denied access because of double parking.

The residents’ case was taken up by local councillors Anne Murphy and Geoff Smith who have fought a near two-year battle to end the disruption.

Now a range of off-road parking places are being provided for staff by the private hospital on Sandygate Road.

Councillor Murphy said: “The problem is that there is no staff parking on the hospital site and some staff were moving across the road and parking on Sandygate area roads, which is a really lovely residential area.”

“Parking on grass verges, parking across driveways, even on a driveway in one case. An ambulance was stopped from getting through by double-parked cars. The residents had a lot of problems.”

Following representations by councillors Murphy and Smith and the residents, the hospital management arranged for staff parking at the nearby Crosspool and District Youth Sports Trust and at the Masonic Hall, in Crosspool, with park-and-ride service.

Some staff refused to use the places but a meeting with councillor Murphy and residents at the hospital alerted the management to the problem.

Now the hospital is to provide extra spaces at The Plough on Sandygate Road.

Councillor Murphy said: “There’s now no reason for staff to park in the Sandygate area. There may still be some parking by hospital visitors or patients at times but hopefully this should be an end to staff all-day parking.

“It has been more than been 18 months and three meetings with the hospital but it now seems that we have achieved something that will help the residents and provide parking for hospital staff.

“We have made the hospital management take us and the residents seriously.”