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Parking spaces are 'created' by £10 tariff
More than 200 extra car parking spaces a day have been created at Preston and Chorley hospitals as the result of a new £10 tariff, health chiefs have revealed.
Bosses at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals introduced a new 10 parking for people parking for more than four hours as a way of rooting out motorists using the sites as cheap park-and-ride facilities.
The new scheme was launched in March and hospital parking chiefs say it is opening up more spaces for genuine patients and visitors.
They claim more than 200 spaces a day have been created with the introduction of the 10 charge.
Ian Cox, director of facilities and services at the trust, said: "The higher charges for over four hours has stopped the use of visitor spaces by staff and there are now a significant number of additional spaces for patients and visitors.
"There are still times of pressure on both sites on
certain days and also around afternoon shift changes, but measures are being taken to encourage staff to use the park and ride facilities."
Car parking is a real issue at the Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble hospitals and many patients.
The 10 fee does not affect people who can prove they are genuine patients and visitors as they will get refunds if they park for more than six hours, and they can also benefit from special 7 weekly tickets.
The hospital trust has also introduced park-and-ride schemes for staff to ease congestion and run a free shuttle bus service between Preston and Chorley hospitals.
Hospital bosses say the shuttle bus service has proved so popular that they have had to increase the size of the bus.
The bus used to be a 16-seater, but has now been replaced by a 29-seater vehicle.
The trust has also submitted a planning application to use the site of the former Northholme Nursing Home in Chorley for temporary parking.
Parking is the biggest issue of complaint among patients and visitors at Preston and Chorley hospitals.
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 22 February 2012
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Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 12 C
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