Paid parking starts 21 February – first two weeks free

26/01/2011 | Paid parking starts 21 February

Over 650 car parks will be available to patients and visitors of Palmerston North Hospital when paid car parking is introduced from Monday 21 February 2011.

Commercial Support Group Manager Jeff Small says a lot of work has gone into making the parking system as easy as possible for public and staff, “A larger number of parks will be available, with easy access to payment machines and staff available onsite to help.

“The first two weeks of parking will be free. People will still have to go through the process of using the parking ticket machines and barrier arms. We’re doing this to help people become familiar with the system and ensure it works smoothly. From March 7, payment will be required.”

The main public parks can still be best accessed via Gates 9, 10 and 11 on Ruahine Street. For those accessing services in the Community Village, use gate 1 on Heretaunga Street.

Patients and visitors will receive the first 30 minutes free; then pay $2 for between 30 minutes and one hour; rising in $1 steps to $7 for between 1 - 5 hours; and $8 for five hours and longer. There is no fee to drive into the hospital site and drop someone off as long as they go within 30 minutes.

Mr Small says the process is user friendly, “When driving onto the hospital campus you will receive a ticket to park. Remember to take this ticket with you – do not leave it in your vehicle. Before returning to your vehicle, pay at one of the automatic payment machines, the manned booth, or the Wilson Parking office. These machines are located in the car parks and inside the foyer of the hospital near the main entrance and they’ll display how much you need to pay. Payment can be made by cash, EFTPOS or credit card. Once you’ve payed, return to your vehicle, drive to the nearest exit and insert your ticket into the machine to raise the barrier arm.”

To further help, new signs are being erected throughout the hospital campus and a bigger drop-off area at the front entrance is being created to reduce congestion and make access easier. Also to help with access to cash, an ATM machine is being installed inside the main hospital entrance.

A minimum number of exemptions will be made, i.e. emergency vehicles, courier and delivery vehicles, buses, motorcycles, parents of critically ill children, immediate family of long stay patients (patients staying over three weeks), renal patients who drive themselves to dialysis, patients receiving regular long term treatment, blood donors, volunteers, rural health shuttles, and vehicles entering and exiting the site within 30 minutes. In addition radiotherapy patients receiving long term regular treatment will receive one hour free parking.

Mr Small says the number of exemptions is small to be fair to everyone, “Guidelines for managing exemptions are being finalised and the process will be quick, simple and easy.

“We’re planning to make the transition to paid car parking as easy and stress-free as possible for everyone. But if you have any questions or problems, contact the Wilson Parking Office on (06) 350 8803 between the hours of 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday or visit our website www.midcentraldhb.govt.nz/paidpark ”

Contact: Communications Unit (06) 350-8945.