Topic: | Re:West Middx Hospital's charges were 7th highest in UK! | |
Posted by: | James Kirkby | |
Date/Time: | 24/07/06 12:59:00 |
What amazes me is the lack of business acumen ECovert are applying to this problem. The car park is always two thirds empty. Without fail, I know because I can watch it from where I live. Recognising that some costs do need to be recouped then I guess a charge is inevitable. But I'd be keen to see some transparency. Last year according to a BBC list The West Mids made over 400K. Now exactly how much does it cost to run a car park? As someone who lives opposite the hospital and who has no off street parking I have to confess to be pretty ticked off when I see people trying to squeeze in to slots that are well beyond their own parking capability. The net result is that I have to date sustained just under £1000 worth of damage to my car. But the real frustration comes from looking out of the window and seeing acres of empty spaces in the car park. I also recognise that for a lot of people paying a penny means they are going to use the surrounding streets but the current usage of the car park space has to be improved, for every bodies sake. Given this overflow parking into the surrounding area is causing stress to everyone including the council. Why don’t the council levy a charge on the hospital for all the car parking slots not being used as result of people using the surrounding area. It would leave the hospital with two options. 1) Increase charges to cover the cost of the “unused bay tax”! Until the car park becomes devoid of all vehicles, and becomes a net cost.(this I suspect being the option they would take regardless). 2) Reduce charges and increase occupancy. Improving overall parking issue in the surrounding area. And actually increase net cash returns from the current cost base. With a view to running at break even rather than profiteering, I might add!!!! It’s just a thought. Having had our resident permits refused my next cunning plan is to have the one way and the traffic lights at the bottom of Amhurst Gardens made permanent there has been a considerable improvement in the overall parking in the area and the traffic flow out of Amhurst gardens has been vastly improved. Cheers |