Residents divided over plans to tackle parking around Sheffield's Northern General Hospital
Residents have their say
Plans to tackle obstructive parking around Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital have divided residents, with some welcoming the proposals while others fear they will make visiting the hospital more difficult.
Sheffield City Council has put forward a series of changes to roads around Firth Park as part of its Connecting Sheffield: Northern Communities scheme.
The proposals aim to tackle parking that has caused problems in the area for years, including vehicles blocking pavements and restricting traffic.
Under the proposals, waiting would be prohibited at any time on parts of 10 roads, while parking on Firth Park Road and Stubbin Lane would be limited to one hour between 8am and 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday.
The council said the restrictions were necessary to prevent obstructive parking and ensure pedestrians could use pavements safely.
One resident close to the hospital said he did not support introducing restrictions. He said: “I don’t think they should put any restrictions in, it’s first come, first serve isn’t it. If you park early, you get the space.”
But Sean, who lives on Longley Hall Road, said parking had become a major issue and welcomed the plans.
He said vehicles were regularly parked on pavements, making it difficult for pedestrians, particularly disabled people, to get past.
Sean added that many drivers parking on the street did not work at the Northern General but instead left their cars there before catching buses into Hallamshire Hospital.
He believed these restrictions could ease some of the pressure this causes.
Another resident said the restrictions would create additional problems for people who already had to attend hospital appointments.
He said: “It’s not a good idea because people have to go to a hospital because they’re ill or disabled – it adds extra issues paying for parking, or having to navigate strict rules.”
He added that patients should not have to pay extra to park and said he often told visitors to park up the road to get cheaper parking.
Yunis does not drive, but said his family often struggles to find spaces on his road because people park there for hospital visits.
He said it is a real issue, and that new restrictions would be welcome.
Another resident, who regularly parks at the pub car park at Firth Park Working Men’s Club on Idsworth Road, said the area was busy but they were not personally affected by the problem.
Matthew Clarke, who works at the hospital, described the proposals as “reasonable”.
He said: “Maybe if more buses are available in the mornings that would be helpful, but overall it sounds reasonable.
“I get the bus in myself but know it is difficult for some. It is probably a good thing.”