Action demanded over 'dangerous and inconsiderate' parking near hospital in South Yorkshire

Hospital chiefs in Doncaster have slashed staff parking charges in an effort to curb 'dangerous and inconsiderate' parking on surrounding streets.
A car parked 'dangerously' close to a junction in Norton Road, IntakeA car parked 'dangerously' close to a junction in Norton Road, Intake
A car parked 'dangerously' close to a junction in Norton Road, Intake

Bosses at Doncaster Royal Infirmary have also stepped up park-and-ride facilities for visitors and staff amid complaints from the hospital's exasperated neighbours about cars blocking their roads.

This photo taken on Norton Road, Intake, shows just one example of the thoughtless parking one resident says has become a daily headache for those living in the area.

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The woman, who asked not to be named, said: "We have had drives blocked, cars parked dangerously at junctions and vehicles on verges making a mess of the grass. We know it is staff as they are in uniform, and when we have confronted them we have had verbal abuse.

"We all appreciate how difficult parking is around here, and this is something the hospital needs to look at for its staff. All we ask is that staff think about where they are parking and how they are parking."

She added that the problem had been getting 'progressively worse' over the past few years, and last week three tickets were issued for dangerous parking but the recipients returned to park in the same spot.

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Infirmary, said it had recently 'significantly' reduced the cost of staff parking permits to encourage employees to use its car parks.

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Kirsty Edmondson-Jones, the trust's director of estates and facilities, also told how it had provided additional parking spaces for the free park-and ride bus service available to staff, patients and visitors.

"For staff and visitors choosing to park in the local area, we actively encourage them to consider residents and to park respectfully," she added.

Gill Gillies, Doncaster Council's assistant director of environment, said: "We are working with DRI and South Yorkshire Police to address the dangerous and inconsiderate parking situation on Norton Road and surrounding streets.

"We have already carried out a number of actions to try and help. This includes increasing our enforcement action on people parking on double yellow lines and limited waiting bays. While our work will continue alongside partners, the main way that the situation will improve is if road users drive sensibly and park in a safe location."