Colchester: ‘Rent space’ idea for hospital (From Gazette)

Colchester: ‘Rent space’ idea for hospital

9:33am Thursday 30th August 2007

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A portable multi-storey car park is the solution to the shortage of spaces at Colchester General Hospital, it was claimed today.

Prospective parliamentary candidate Jill Skalla said health bosses should make patient convenience top priority by creating more room for drivers to park.

She said one solution could be hiring a firm to put up a removable second tier above one of the existing car parks at the site in Turner Road.

Oldham firm Another Level, and Wolverhampton-based TopDeck Parking, each offer "instant" factory-made second storeys that can be put up in a matter of days.

A bought or rented temporary car park would cost health bosses £50,000 to install and would pay for itself.

Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust charges £1.80 for an hour stay and made about £700,000 in the last financial year from parking charges at Colchester General.

Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust has a policy of encouraging patients to travel by bus, but recently made a concession to drivers by opening up a 74-space staff car park to the public.

There are further proposals as part of plans to shift services to Colchester General from the ageing Essex County Hospital.

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