A small parking victory, but more must be done
13th November 2006
Alan Whitehead has thrown his full support behind Coxford residents’ calls for better parking arrangements in the streets around Southampton General Hospital.
The calls come in the wake of the Council finally agreeing to reduce congestion around Aldermoor Health Centre by introducing a no parking zone on part of Coxford Road. Dr Whitehead originally identified parking problems around the health centre after a residents’ survey was conducted in January 2006.
On Wednesday community activists will call on the City Council to do more to reduce parking pressure on residential streets close to the hospital. Traffic driving to the General Hospital has continued to rise over the last 5 years, with most cars parking in residential streets nearby. The results are streets clogged with parked cars and some residents concreting over their gardens in order to ensure they have somewhere to park.
Dr Whitehead has published a wide range of proposals to improve parking around the hospital, including extending the Coxford Residents’ Parking Scheme and developing park and ride schemes for hospital employees.
He said:
“The expansion of the General Hospital is a fine achievement. Everyone in Southampton recognises the value of having a top class hospital that is accessible to all.
But the hospital cannot expect to expand without putting in place adequate measures to deal with an increased number of cars needing to park at or near the Hospital.
Over 500 people replied to my survey about the state of parking in the areas affected by hospital expansion. And whilst the council and the hospital have started to address their concerns they need to do more by expanding the residents’ parking scheme, expanding the ‘no parking at any time’ zones in narrow roads, and finally by taking the idea of park and ride schemes seriously.”
Dr Whitehead added:
“The parking problems around the hospital highlight the wider problem of transport infrastructure in Southampton. Therefore, while more money has been invested, without all the tools necessary for a properly integrated public transport system real improvements in the city, and South Hampshire have been muted. That’s why I’m lobbying the government to introduce a Passenger Transport Authority that could provide strong and clear direction for public transport, similar to what is now being done in London.”
More information
- Community activists will make a presentation to Southampton City Council’s Transport and Environmental Scrutiny Committee about the state of parking in Coxford on Wednesday 15th November.
- Conclusions of Alan Whitehead’s survey on parking near the General Hospital can be read here.
- Over 500 people have contacted Dr Whitehead to express there dissatisfaction with parking in Coxford. 277 people contacted Dr Whitehead specifically regarding parking problems related to the General Hospital.
