We, the undersigned staff and supporters of The Holly Private Hospital, strongly oppose the proposed parking restrictions on the Drummonds and Knighton Lane, Buckhurst Hill.

Nuffield Health The Holly Hospital, located in Buckhurst Hill, is a well-established local hospital predominantly serving residents across Essex. As part of a charitable organisation, we provide care to both private and NHS patients, while also maintaining a strong and valued partnership with our NHS colleagues. Our multidisciplinary team, comprising both clinical and non-clinical staff, is fully committed to delivering safe, effective, and compassionate care to all patients.

These proposals would significantly reduce available parking for hospital staff who already face very limited parking options. Many employees rely on the Drummonds and Knighton Lane as one of the few accessible nearby areas where they can park whilst attending work.

The Holly Private Hospital provides essential healthcare services and relies on staff working long shifts, early mornings, evenings, weekends and emergency call outs. Reliable parking access is essential for nurses, healthcare assistants, laboratory staff, theatre teams, porters, consultants, administrative teams and other healthcare professionals who ensure the smooth running of hospital services.

The proposed restrictions would create unnecessary pressure on staff and may make it increasingly difficult for employees to attend work on time, particularly those working unsocial hours when public transport options are limited.

The section of Knighton Lane directly behind the hospital is adjacent to hospital grounds and open green space and does not directly impact residential properties in the same way as parking on residential streets outside people’s homes. Restricting this area appears unnecessary and disproportionately affects hospital staff who rely on it for parking.

We respectfully ask Essex County Council, North Essex Parking Partnership, and Buckhurst Hill Parish Council to reconsider these proposals and work with the hospital to identify a practical and fair alternative that protects reasonable parking access for staff.

By signing this petition, we ask the council to reconsider the proposed restrictions and ensure that healthcare staff are not unfairly impacted.