No to cancer centre until parking problems are sorted, say campaigners (From Echo)
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No to Southend cancer centre until parking problems are sorted, say campaigners
7:00am Friday 11th January 2013 in Local News
Councillor Ric Morgan outside the hospital
A HOSPITAL extension should be banned until parking problems in surrounding streets can be resolved, campaigners have claimed.
People living around Southend Hospital say any expansion should not go ahead while council bosses are working to stop patients and staff clogging up their roads.
Health chiefs want to build a new information centre to offer support and advice to cancer sufferers.
But Ric Morgan, an Independent councillor for Prittlewell who is leading the protests, said it was liable to cause even more problems.
He said: “We are currently reviewing the hospital parking management scheme, so to make changes while that is ongoing seems very counter-productive.
“Adding another block will surely mean more patients and more staff, and therefore more problems with parking.
“We should concentrate on solving the main issue first.”
Southend Council decided to impose parking restrictions in streets around the hospital in 2011, in response to repeated complaints from residents unable to park outside their homes.
Eighteen streets now have pay-and-display bays, a residents’ permit system and yellow lines.
However, anger over the issue flared up again last year after people living just outside the area covered by the scheme complained it had simply moved the problem to their roads.
The council is now consulting on plans to add additional streets to the scheme.
Hospital bosses and Macmillan Care submitted their proposals for a new cancer information centre in November.
They hoped to get a decision on the extension, which would be attached to the existing tower block, by the end of January.
Jacqueline Totterdell, the hospital’s chief executive, said it would have no impact on parking congestion as it was designed to help existing patients.
She said: “The plans aim to address this and are about giving the best possible service we can to existing patients, rather than increasing the numbers we see – an aspiration that we hope the planning committee and our local community will support.
“The issue of car parking in and around our site should therefore not be linked to this planning application.
“We ask staff and visitors to respect the fact we are based in a residential area and to ensure that if they do drive, that they park in a responsible and safe manner.
“However, we ultimately have no authority to prevent parking in streets where restrictions do not apply.”
Comments(31)
EssexBoy1968
says...
7:39am Fri 11 Jan 13
1. Give patients at English hospitals free parking, mirroring Wales & Scotland (point to note, when the parking fees were allowed for the UK, the Labour MPs representing Welsh & Scottish constituencies voted in favour as they already knew their devolved assembly/parliament would ensure these fees were never to be imposed on their own electorate).
2. Make provision for additional parking, possibly by building a car park for patients/visitors to match that already there for the staff.
Of course, better bus services with free travel for patients/escorts would be a good idea too, but as we cannot have a decent service elsewhere in the borough (especially at evenings & weekends), I suppose that is a non-starter.
EssexBoy1968
says...
7:42am Fri 11 Jan 13
Nebs wrote:Ah, but you'd have SKIPP setting up a protest camp there if they even thought one tree was going to be felled..............
What about that long wide patch of grass down the middle of Prittlewell Chase, running from the hospital to St Thomas More. Concrete it over and make it into parking bays.
............
JAS1983
says...
8:01am Fri 11 Jan 13
Max Impact
says...
8:04am Fri 11 Jan 13
Max Impact
says...
8:21am Fri 11 Jan 13
Ben Fleet
says...
8:36am Fri 11 Jan 13
Russ13
says...
10:13am Fri 11 Jan 13
Residents in the surrounding area own their houses and the land around them, not the roads which are the Queen's Highway.
Admittedly the situation does seem to be a little out of hand and parking resources at the hospital need to be increased but provided local residents' drives aren't being obstructed they have no cause to complain about other road users parking on the road in front of their houses.
Ray1963
says...
10:57am Fri 11 Jan 13
seasider1965
says...
10:58am Fri 11 Jan 13
j-w
says...
11:24am Fri 11 Jan 13
j-w
says...
11:35am Fri 11 Jan 13
wakering gal
says...
11:48am Fri 11 Jan 13
Blind Haze
says...
1:03pm Fri 11 Jan 13
So Mr Morgan believes that parking is a bigger issue than cancer.
whats wrong with you people?
says...
2:14pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Dont worry about the cancer, just mind where you park your car. IDIOT!
mrcheetah
says...
3:08pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Max Impact
says...
3:58pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Why should people of Southend who have cancer suffer and have to travel miles out of Southend to get the treatment they so desperately desperately need just so people can park their cars outside their houses.
It has been said time and time again that you do NOT own the public highway outside your house it is PUBLIC and if somebody wants to park their car there and as long it is taxed, insured, holds an MoT, is not causing an obstruction and the driver is fully compliant with the rules and laws of the road than no crime has been committed.
Anyone who supports the crippling of the cancer services of Southend really does not have the best interests and health of the people of Southend at heart.
All too many of us have seen a loved one fight and all too often have lost a loved one to this dreadful disease anything that can be done to help those we care about the most fight and battle and hopefully win that fight must be supported, if this means a few people might have to park a few doors or a road away from their house than so be it.
So is a life worth more than a parking space?
I say it is, and I'm sure the majority of you will agree with me.
ADVT00U
says...
4:28pm Fri 11 Jan 13
I can not understand how someone classed as a Councillor can not look at the bigger picture and long term advantages such a project will deliver.
Also as part of the planning application the Hospital will have to submit plans which will include the use of roads and parking facilities..
This guy should be ashamed of even contemplating putting a bloker in the way of this project, given its purpose..
Total cretin!!
Broadwaywatch
says...
5:03pm Fri 11 Jan 13
j-w wrote:Also many of the propertys behind the Hospital and left and right of have drive.
I could never understand why the parking scheme extended to roads like Westbourne Grove where most houses have ample drives for parking. The road is empty during the day now. Roads like this should be removed from the scheme and given back to the public to use.
Rule the day some bright spark decided to sell off Rochford.
firedog
says...
5:28pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Nebs wrote:It might spoil the view.
What about that long wide patch of grass down the middle of Prittlewell Chase, running from the hospital to St Thomas More. Concrete it over and make it into parking bays.
balexan1
says...
7:05pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Max Impact wrote:I can't believe this day has arrived, a comment that actually consists of the consideration of others from Max Impact, is 2013 the year of change?
The people have spoken as one, cancer services over car parking as it should be.
Why should people of Southend who have cancer suffer and have to travel miles out of Southend to get the treatment they so desperately desperately need just so people can park their cars outside their houses.
It has been said time and time again that you do NOT own the public highway outside your house it is PUBLIC and if somebody wants to park their car there and as long it is taxed, insured, holds an MoT, is not causing an obstruction and the driver is fully compliant with the rules and laws of the road than no crime has been committed.
Anyone who supports the crippling of the cancer services of Southend really does not have the best interests and health of the people of Southend at heart.
All too many of us have seen a loved one fight and all too often have lost a loved one to this dreadful disease anything that can be done to help those we care about the most fight and battle and hopefully win that fight must be supported, if this means a few people might have to park a few doors or a road away from their house than so be it.
So is a life worth more than a parking space?
I say it is, and I'm sure the majority of you will agree with me.
This type of consideration was not considered with the airport, victoria avenue, fossets way or any of the housing estates that keep cropping up??? So why are facilities for people with fatal illnesses put on hold because of parking and congestion. Perhaps it's because it is a public service and isn't designed to make profit?
This brings back horrible memories of when Rochford hospital was dismantled. This would of been the perfect site for this type of facility, along with many others.
It is not parking that is prioritised over peoples health, Max Impact, it is money and the inability of people to think of anyone but themselves.
Max Impact
says...
7:44pm Fri 11 Jan 13
balexan1 wrote:It must be highlighted that it is just this ONE Independent councillor and a small band of campaigners who are strangley absent from the photo or being nammed in both this article and the printed version in tonight echo.
Max Impact wrote:I can't believe this day has arrived, a comment that actually consists of the consideration of others from Max Impact, is 2013 the year of change?
The people have spoken as one, cancer services over car parking as it should be.
Why should people of Southend who have cancer suffer and have to travel miles out of Southend to get the treatment they so desperately desperately need just so people can park their cars outside their houses.
It has been said time and time again that you do NOT own the public highway outside your house it is PUBLIC and if somebody wants to park their car there and as long it is taxed, insured, holds an MoT, is not causing an obstruction and the driver is fully compliant with the rules and laws of the road than no crime has been committed.
Anyone who supports the crippling of the cancer services of Southend really does not have the best interests and health of the people of Southend at heart.
All too many of us have seen a loved one fight and all too often have lost a loved one to this dreadful disease anything that can be done to help those we care about the most fight and battle and hopefully win that fight must be supported, if this means a few people might have to park a few doors or a road away from their house than so be it.
So is a life worth more than a parking space?
I say it is, and I'm sure the majority of you will agree with me.
This type of consideration was not considered with the airport, victoria avenue, fossets way or any of the housing estates that keep cropping up??? So why are facilities for people with fatal illnesses put on hold because of parking and congestion. Perhaps it's because it is a public service and isn't designed to make profit?
This brings back horrible memories of when Rochford hospital was dismantled. This would of been the perfect site for this type of facility, along with many others.
It is not parking that is prioritised over peoples health, Max Impact, it is money and the inability of people to think of anyone but themselves.
Unless the campaigners are willing to stand up and face the camrea why should we listen to them.
SBC if you really do read these forums, this facity is something that Southend needs.
Thinking about the fact that rejecting it could see the plug pulled on other services in this much needed section of the hospitals work, facilitys that other hospitals would grab with both hands and it will then be us the people of Southend that will suffer, we will have to travel miles out of town to reach the services we need to carry on our lives in the best way we can in the time we have please ignore this councillor and listen to your hearts you know, we know this is a facility Southend must NOT loose.
Would you vote or somebody who wants to block cancer care in Southend?
disgusted of essex
says...
7:54pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Nebs
says...
7:54am Sat 12 Jan 13
j-w wrote:I heard last night, don't know if it is true, that some of those roads that are currently Resident Permit Bays Only will be changed so as the bays become pay and display.
I could never understand why the parking scheme extended to roads like Westbourne Grove where most houses have ample drives for parking. The road is empty during the day now. Roads like this should be removed from the scheme and given back to the public to use.
Bigmama1
says...
8:53am Sat 12 Jan 13
JAS1983 wrote:So annoying though when looking for a space to see the majority of the resident parking spaces empty!
Cancer v minor parking issues... The hospital is landlocked, sacrifices have to be made, and parking for residents has never been better since everywhere around the hospital has resident parking now.
loopylou62
says...
8:58am Sat 12 Jan 13
EssexBoy1968 wrote:All these people that live in the surrounding streets do they never go shopping and park outside somebody else's house or visit friends and park in somebody else's street!! The street doesn't belong to you car drivers pay road tax to be able to use the roads!! It is bad enough having to visit and take people to hospital on a daily basis without the stress of finding somewhere to park as well no person having treatment wants to have to get a bus to hospital and not all can afford a taxi.
2 easy answers reference the parking:-
1. Give patients at English hospitals free parking, mirroring Wales & Scotland (point to note, when the parking fees were allowed for the UK, the Labour MPs representing Welsh & Scottish constituencies voted in favour as they already knew their devolved assembly/parliament would ensure these fees were never to be imposed on their own electorate).
2. Make provision for additional parking, possibly by building a car park for patients/visitors to match that already there for the staff.
Of course, better bus services with free travel for patients/escorts would be a good idea too, but as we cannot have a decent service elsewhere in the borough (especially at evenings & weekends), I suppose that is a non-starter.
runwellian
says...
2:04pm Sat 12 Jan 13
Firstly we pay road tax, insurance etc to be able to use roads, nobody owns the road outside their home so there shouldn't be permits of any kind.
Secondly, you have to pay a set fee to park at the hospital now matter how short your visit may be. You have to pay an additional fee if you run over time because your appointment tis running late.
Disabled parking also has to be paid for.
I looked for a solution to many of these and other issues!
Basildon hospital has ample parking.
Disabled parking is free of charge.
If you need an x-ray, even with a form that has a Southend Hospital heading, you can go to Basildon hospital without an appointment and get your x-ray done very quickly.
As a patient at Basildon hospital your food is served on china plates, unlike the cardboard plates used at Southend.
There are no more complaints about Basildon than there are at Southend re care. I have always had the very best of care, in rooms that have doors that are closed during consultation, unlike southend that only have curtains, or doors blocked open.
You don;'t have to walk miles of corridors and the staff are fantastic!
It is no good any hospital providing treatment if patients cannot access them, not forgetting all the aggro finding a parking place!
I love my alternative so please give it a try! Maybe a bit further to travel, but a hassle free experience!
EssexPerson
says...
7:21am Sun 13 Jan 13
Wow nice people.
I understand their parking complaints and clearly something needs to be sorted, but asking them to delay something so important shouldn't even be considered.
Didn't they recently build and subsequently close, due to health and safety, a multi-story car park at the Hospital, has that re-opened yet?
Max Impact
says...
6:58pm Sun 13 Jan 13
If they do not have a group name shall we throw a few in to the hat?
PnC (Parking Not Care)
POCC (Parking Over Cancer Care)
cgb
says...
7:26pm Tue 15 Jan 13
If you favour china plates and parking over decent clinical care more fool you. Ask any doctor or nurse who has worked at both hospitals which one they would rather be treated in!!
As for the issue here I can only agree with the vast majority. Cancer trumps parking by a very long way. Wakering gal says it all for me.
If you don't like people parking (legally) in your road don't move next to a hospital thats been there decades more then you have!
sjbwbg
says...
8:16pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Nebs wrote:I dont agree with residents parking permits or the proposed pay and display scheme.The road is empty during the day.Parking should be free for all motorists regardless of the arguments about the morals of cancer patients.
What about that long wide patch of grass down the middle of Prittlewell Chase, running from the hospital to St Thomas More. Concrete it over and make it into parking bays.
Nebs says...
7:31am Fri 11 Jan 13