With the expected closure of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s Park and Ride service at the end of June, Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy and Shadow Welsh Minister for Social Services, has put pressure on the Welsh Government Minister directly managing Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to stop the closure so to avoid further car parking chaos and unnecessary pressure on hospital patients.
Janet said:
“The intention to terminate the park and ride service is a major cause of concern to constituents and medical professionals.
“Whilst I appreciate that the service was introduced as a temporary measure to ease parking pressures during building work, it has proven to be an essential service. For example, residents have spoken of it as the only way through which a parking space can be easily found.
“Despite the fact that the health board is creating an additional 167 car park spaces on site, knowledge of the current system at the hospital should be enough to prove the need to maintain the service.
“I have written to the Minister for Health and Social Services explaining that regular users of onsite parking are often left with no option but to wait for someone to vacate a space, or park unsafely in inappropriate locations.
“This well known parking congestion zone is already the source of stress and anxiety about potentially missing appointments. Therefore, I am seriously concerned that increasing demand for onsite parking will make the situation far worse.
“In an attempt to deal with the dilemma, I have asked for alternative measures to be explored urgently, such as the possibility of providing the bus service at peak times only, or even charging £1 for a return ticket.
“Undoubtedly, the Minister needs to move swiftly as I am aware that there is cross-party support for action”.
You can download Janet's letter below.
