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‘It’s a disaster waiting to happen’ – Teacher concerned Stoke Mandeville Hospital staff parking in street by school are putting children at risk
Winterton Drive, one of the roads hit by the problem
Children’s lives are being put at risk by Stoke Mandeville Hospital staff parking on a residential street by a special school, a teacher has claimed.
Booker Park School’s Christine Ludlow described double parking along Winterton Drive and Kynaston Avenue as ‘an accident waiting to happen’.
School Business Director Ms Ludlow said children at the school, many of whom have mental and physical health needs, sometimes need access to ambulances and on one occasion an emergency vehicle was delayed getting to the school.
Meanwhile, confrontations have been reported between residents and staff and PC Michael Cowdrey is worried tensions could boil over. Residents and councillors have raised concerns about ‘disrespectful’ parking, with reports of staff changing in their cars.
Bucks Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said it has ideas to ease the problem, including a 300-space multi-storey car park.
Last year parking fees were increased, with hospital staff paying up to £20 monthly.
The Bucks Herald previously reported on staff being told to park in side streets.
Ms Ludlow called for parking restrictions to be introduced. She said: “We just want our children to be safe. Nothing has happened yet but we don’t want to see a death before something gets done. If you look at the risks it stacks up that it’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
Ms Ludlow said buses and wheelchair accessible taxis often struggle to get to the school. A trip to Legoland was once delayed by 30 minutes because a bus could not get through.
PC Cowdrey said: “Aside from the school, my concern would be any disturbances that might occur between residents and people from the hospital.”
Councillor Brian Roberts said residents were ‘angered’ and ‘frustrated’ by the situation and were worried plans for an A&E extension would make things worse.
The hospital says any parking lost to the development will be provided elsewhere on site.
There are 1,100 spaces at the site, with 5,000 staff working three shifts over 24 hours.
The Trust said: “We take residents’ views very seriously and continue to work with them, the local authority, local community support officers and our staff to improve easy access to parking at our sites.”
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Weather for Aylesbury
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
