Public meeting, BBC Radio Berkshire and South Today

I attended the public meeting, organised by a concerned resident, last night at St Luke’s Church. The biggest thing I took away from the meeting is that the parking situation around the hospital and University is a huge issue with many facets to it. The parking chaos around the hospital and university can be linked to a number of issues: • The move by the university to condense at the Whiteknights site • The closure of the Battle hospital, condensing at RBH site on London/Craven Road • The sheer number of people who work at or are served by the hospital • The removal of spaces due to emergency services not being able to gain access (and this is line with national regulations of how much space as to be available between the edge of marked bays) • The number of houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs), these can have up to 6 people registered per household. • Permits not given to commercial vehicles which sometimes results in illegal parking By introducing the restrictions, there are concerns that people who currently park in the 2 hour slots or on the unrestricted roads will just move further out to the roads not included in the proposals. Residents from these areas are understandably concerned about this. My concern is that there is not enough parking for staff (who cannot always get permits or spaces), patients and visitors. Parking is a huge source of stress to everyone who visits or lives in the area. I’ve spoken to or heard from so many people who report driving around for hours trying to find spaces, often being late for appointments and if staff can’t get parked, then who will look after all the people that come for those appointments? Unfortunately, as the meeting was organised by a resident, it was mostly a forum for that side of things whereas I feel that it would be impossible to find a solution if we do not address the hospital parking situation. There was a great deal of interaction from the public on BBC Radio Berkshire this morning and some of the suggestions include: • Using bus routes – this isn’t practical for some people due to mobility issues, undergoing harsh treatments like chemotherapy or the disabled and elderly. It also isn’t practical for people like me who, as a midwife, could get called out to a home-birth. There currently isn’t a bus route that runs near my house at the time that I would need to catch it to get to work for 7am. • A park and ride – there was actually a park and ride until 2008 when it was stopped although this also has the same issues as above. • Making the car park staff only – this still doesn’t help the patients and visitors who CAN’T use the public transport in the area due to mobility. There are also staff groups who CANNOT get permits so this doesn’t help them unless they are made available to them too. • Moving the hospital – NOT a short term solution. The RBH have spent a huge sum of money on aspects of the maternity block amongst other departments. It’s not likely to move for a long time. • Building another multi-storey – this might help as long as they can reduce the parking charges and make it more attractive for people to park there as well as ensure that there are enough spaces for people. • Reduction on bus fares for NHS staff and/or more regular services at times for shift workers. The three Labour Councillors for the Redlands Ward were present, Toby Jones, Dave Absolom and Jan Gavin. Rob Wilson, Conservative MP, was absent. Dave Absolom gave his pledge that he would push for a pause on the proposals so that a working party could be put together to achieve a solution that was of benefit to everybody. However, I really believe that these are not issues that any one group can settle. Decisions need to be made between the university, the hospital (staff, visitors and patients), the Council and residents. The upshot of the meeting is that ‘they’ (councillors, the Council) vote for a pause on the restrictions. This is where you come in. You need to shout out loud and say you’re not happy with their suggestions (although I think an email gets sent to the highway objections email address every time someone signs the petition so hopefully they have been flooded by the people who have signed the petition. We need to work together to come up with a solution. I have emailed the Councillors offering to be part of the working party, to speak on behalf of staff, patients and visitors. I have also emailed Rob Wilson to get an update from him and I have emailed Jean O’Callaghan but her email address doesn’t appear to be working. The decision will be made on the 15th of June and will be broadcast on the web. More information here: http://www.reading.gov.uk/yoursay Thank you again to everyone who has signed this and shared it. The success of this petition has meant that I have appeared on South Today and on BBC Radio Berkshire. The more we talk about it, the more people have to listen and I just hope that we can find a solution that benefits us all.