Now it's holidaymakers taking up car parking spaces at area hospital - claim

The Times understands that people are leaving their vehicles at the hospital for free rather than pay the cost of airport parking - depriving genuine hospital users of the much-needed facility.

Previously, the Times has reported on workers leaving their cars all day at the hospital before getting lifts to their workplaces in Belfast or Ballymena but the claim that the situation is now being exploited by people going on their holidays is a new twist in the long-running saga.

It’s believed that jet-setters are leaving their car at the hospital and then taking a taxi to nearby Belfast International Airport.

The Times understands that the situation came to light when authorities attempted to contact the owner of a vehicle which sustained light damage in a minor collision in the hospital car park - only to find out that the car owner was out of the country on holiday!

One woman, who recently visited a relative at the hospital, contacted the Times to highlight the ongoing parking problems.

“It used to be at visiting times it was more difficult to get a parking space but that situation now exists whatever time you go, especially in the daytime.

“That is largely due to people using the car park for a purpose other than what it was created for, which is very unfair on people wanting to visit relatives or friends in hospital.

“I feel the hospital authorities should introduce some kind of meter system where you get the first couple of hours free and then pay for any longer than that - I think most people would find that fair enough.

“It would certainly make illegal, all-day parkers think twice and it would mean that genuine users wouldn’t have to drive around in circles forever and a day to get a space,” the woman added.

A Northern Health and Social Care Trust spokesperson said the Trust could not comment on whether the hospital car park was being used by holidaymakers but issued the following statement:

“We are aware of abuse of car parks at Trust Hospitals and have made this public in the past. Hospital car parks are for the use of patients and visitors to the hospital.

“This is an essential facility and we would appeal to the wider public to support us in enforcing this.

“We have developed plans to introduce traffic management systemsbut this can only be taken forward when the necessary funding is available.”