Plan for car sharing scheme to solve RAH parking problems

Oct 25 2011 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

HEALTH bosses are trying out a car-sharing scheme in a bid to solve ongoing parking problems at Paisley’s main hospital.

Residents living near the Royal Alexandra Hospital have been driven round the bend since parking changes were introduced in September last year.

Because the large car park at the front of the RAH has been reserved for patients and visitors, many NHS workers have been parking on streets near the hospital, prompting the anger of local residents.

Now a total of 49 parking spaces are to be set aside inside the hospital grounds for staff taking part in the new “Budi” scheme to try to cut down on the number of people bringing their cars to work every day.

The six-month pilot project kicks off on December 1, and staff with the most qualifying points will be given permits first.

Drivers taking part will receive points based on the number of people they bring to work and the more days they take part in the scheme.

Alex McIntyre, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s director of facilities, said: “A recent travel survey carried out at the site suggested that a number of our staff would be interested in participating in a car-sharing scheme.

“We have now decided to introduce the Budi car-sharing scheme as a pilot project for six months and hope staff will take up the opportunity to car share.

“This is another step in our commitment to do all we can to alleviate the parking problems around the site, as well as giving staff another option for travelling to work.”

Application forms for the car-sharing scheme are now available at the hospital and the permits will be issued in mid-November.

Permits can have a maximum of four registration numbers on it, meaning staff can share the responsibility of driving to work.

Health bosses said they’ll be continually monitoring and assessing the scheme to see if it’s working or whether a more efficient or convenient arrangement would benefit the staff or the site.

If it proves to be a success, they plan to roll the scheme out to hospitals and other health board sites across the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.