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Parking cameras back on after people abuse patient car park
14/04/2021
Banbury Cross Health Centre reintroduces system to make parking fairer for patients
Parking cameras are set to be switched back on at the Banbury Cross Health Centre after the free patient car park was abused by people leaving their cars and then heading into town. The cameras will start recording car registration numbers from Monday (April 19). People who aren’t Health Centre users could face a £70 fine.
Banbury Cross Health Centre had turned off the parking cameras during the pandemic. Prior to that Health Centre users were asked to enter their vehicle registration details in the reception areas for the surgery and pharmacy. The small patient car park contains around 35 spaces.
In a message posted on social media the Health Centre said: “With lockdown loosening we need to make sure that we use our parking spaces as efficiently as possible, so from next Monday 19 April we will be switching on the Parking monitoring system for our staff and patient car parks.
“During the COVID crisis we disabled our cameras, but unfortunately this has seen the free parking in both car parks used by non-patients, who have been parking and walking into town.”
The parking cameras automatically record vehicle registration numbers as drivers enter and exit the car park. Upon entering the surgery drivers then enter their registration number into a computer system to validate their free parking. The Health Centre say they will provide hand sanitizer and screen cleaner for people to use when entering their details.
During COVID vaccination clinics and at other busy times the Health Centre say they will have volunteers entering car registrations for people on arrival.
Anyone who hasn’t entered their vehicle details into the system will automatically be issued with a £70 fine for unauthorised parking, which can rise to £110 if its not paid within two weeks.
Patients are also advised not to park on the double yellow lines in Monument Street next to the car park as Thames Valley Police do issue tickets for illegal parking.
Banbury Cross Health Centre said: “We kindly request everyone to be as considerate as possible and only use the car park if you really need to. We want to make sure we have enough spaces for patients with children and less mobility, so they don’t have to walk far when visiting us.
“This system has worked very well for us prior to COVID and we anticipate that by taking these measures, it will free up spaces and make access to the surgery much easier, and fairer for our patients who are car users.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam