Since the beginning of time people have found reasons to complain, protest and disagree. Whether it was a caveman fighting with one another over a patch of land, or a country battling with another oh… a patch of land. Western culture is one of seemingly unsatisfied cynics, why should today be any different?
Gloucester Royal Hospital began handing control of its car parks over to Vinci Park in January, they also signed a contract with Vinci Park for them to begin construction on a 1,000 space multi-story car park in an attempt to free up local side roads and provide more staff parking, a project which has an estimated cost of around £9 million.
Local residents and businesses have met a similar project at Cheltenham General Hospital with some animosity. The build, which is expected to cost around £6 million and should roughly add 400 spaces to the already 800 strong car park, was originally challenged because of aesthetic problems. The front of the car park was primarily designed with timber cladding and people didn’t like this because it clashed with historic buildings in the area surrounding the construction site.
There have also been major disputes about the control of car park charges being placed in the hands of Vinci Park just before a national review is about to take place, when government is expected to abolish car parking charges at NHS sites across England.
“The government are currently consulting on a number of options at the moment and we will need to await the outcome of this process.” He did however go on to say:
“What is clear is that we already do a lot of the measures that are suggested”. Obviously the hospitals in Gloucestershire are struggling to cope with the high demands placed on their car parks and suggestions made by the government are not relieving the problem.
“We have retained free parking for patients with long term conditions such as those receiving cancer treatment and subsidised rates for all patients who are in hospital for an extended period of time.”
Cheltenham MP and Liberal Democrat, Martin Horwood said that in light of government reviewing the NHS parking nation wide, it is not right for visitors to either hospital to be charged when other NHS car parks will be free: “the project needs to be considered in light of the national review.”
It has been speculated that Cheltenham General Hospital are offering the local council in the region of £15,000 for the planning process to go ahead, Martin explains: “It is fairly common for developers to give funds for public benefits… but it should not be used to push through unpopular developments”.
In a recent interview, Julie Sergeant, Chief Executive of near by Sanford Park Lido expressed fears that construction of the proposed car park will cast a shadow on the famously popular outdoor swimming pool in Cheltenham. This is a draw for tourism and could potentially result in a loss of income for the borough.
Martin Horwood feels that an appeal on the build is necessary, he said: “The need for a car park doesn’t excuse imposing a design that is unwelcome to residents and insensitive to the historic Lido site”.
But don’t worry! It isn’t all doom and gloom; some people are actually supporting the development of car parks in hospitals. Chantelle Farmer, a student from the University of Gloucestershire, was forced to experience Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals parking facilities first hand. She completely convinced that the car park builds should go ahead.
Chantelle said: “[parking] at the hospital is ridiculous and very often I found that I couldn’t park during peak times so would have to park on the side of the road or away from the hospital”. She said that the parking there is expensive and when Vinci Park take control of the parking at Gloucester Royal they should charge less than the NHS. In 2008, English hospitals charged £112 million for its car parks, but if Vinci Park charges much less, they may not be in good standing to make a return on their investment of £9 million on one single car park.
So, the battle continues! There is a need for more parking, but nobody is willing to let the building work begin. Only time will tell who will prevail in yet another historic battle over… a patch of land.
