A new and better car parking system is being introduced on the Colchester Hospital site – including the Primary Care Centre – to save people time and stress.
Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), upgraded payment machines and new exit barriers will replace the current barrier parking and ticket system. The old barriers will be removed on 8 October with the new ANPR system starting on 15 October.
ANPR records a vehicle’s licence plate on arrival, meaning visitors will no longer have to take a ticket from a machine. People then enter their licence plate and pay BY CARD OR CASH before returning to their vehicle. New digital signage will also display how many spaces are available in each car park.
Paul Fenton, Director of Estates and Facilities, said: “The existing parking system causes unnecessary stress to our patients and visitors. This isn’t good enough. We have had problems with the barrier system that causes traffic to build up outside the hospital and the cash-only payment system is simply out of date and unable to keep up with the demand it receives.
“We believe the new system will be clearer, more streamlined and simpler to use, making the experience of visiting our hospital easier and not adding to what may already be a stressful situation.
“With the new system we are also getting stronger at managing inappropriate parking on the site. We will now be able to issue fines to anyone who misuses the car parking facilities that our visitors require.”
Parking charges will also be introduced at the Primary Care Centre on Turner Road with prices mirroring those set to be introduced at the hospital, apart from the free period, which will be for one hour, helping patients to visit their GP without paying a parking charge. Blue badge holders and renal patients driving to their appointments can also park for free at the PCC site.
Five and seven-day parking permits, designed to help people visiting in-patients, are available at £15 (five days) and £18 (seven days).
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