Call to help hospital workers with parking costs

Brighton councillors are being asked to help hospital workers who struggle to pay for parking charges when working long and unsociable hours.

Kemptown resident Robert Brown is calling on Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) to look at potential parking permit options for essential workers at the city's Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Mr Brown, who twice stood for election in the area for the Liberal Democrats, said NHS workers had to pay more than £50 a week to park.

Trevor Muten, the council's cabinet member for transport, parking and public realm, said BHCC was committed to making parking fairer and less complicated for people living and working in the city.

He said: "Earlier this year we approved a full review of our parking arrangements, which will include looking at the cost of parking throughout the city.

"As part of this we will work with NHS representatives to improve parking arrangements for key workers and we are also planning a park-and-ride, which will provide additional options for key workers."

Mr Brown said he became aware that new staff at the hospital were asking for free or cheaper parking places on social media.

He explained that some staff were also having to travel in from nearby villages and towns at various times due to their shifts, which sometimes did not align with bus timetables.

Mr Brown said: "Liberal Democrats believe that more needs to be done to support those who are working not just in our hospitals, yet [in] other vital services, such as home visit care workers."

After Labour won a majority in May 2023, the council reversed a move by the previous Green administration to triple parking charges around the hospital and in other areas, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Muten explained that on-street parking restrictions near the hospital were also generally only in force between 09:00 and 20:00.

Mr Brown is expected to raise his concerns at a meeting of the full council on Thursday.

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