Audi TT removed from Raigmore Hospital car park thought to have been there for 22 weeks
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AN Audi TT sports car was removed from Raigmore Hospital car park today (Wed) after apparently being parked there without moving for almost six months.
This gives further credence to strong suspicions that the car park is subject to misuse by drivers using it but not visiting the hospital.
It is thought that on occasion people use it as a park and ride to avoid paying £5 a day to park in town, catching a bus to the centre instead.
And a taxi driver has told how he took returning holidaymakers from Inverness Airport straight to their car waiting for them in the hospital car park.
Highland Council member Duncan Macpherson was tipped off about the TT and told it was suspected that the it hadn't turned a wheel since December. He visited the car park during night shift hours and took photographs of the car, sitting alone in the near empty park.
He was surprised that the car had not been brought to the hospital's attention before now, but pointed out that it had could have been left in the car park before the new vehicle recognition security system at the single point entry to the park was installed earlier this year.
The metallic grey car is 20 years-old, with an expired MOT since March, 152,279 miles on the clock and worth £855 according to an online site he said. It has also been SORNED as off the road untaxed.
Cllr Macpherson contacted Ronnie Dyce the proprietor of Highland Recycling Limited (HRL) at the Carse Industrial Estate who offered to have the vehicle uplifted and removed at no cost, to free up a valuable parking space at the north’s busiest hospital.
He added: "It has now been transported to a secure storage area within the HRL yard. Mr Dyce is happy to store the car, and allow the owners to collect it from him.
"If as we expect, the owners have abandoned it in Raigmore Hospital grounds, then HRL will recycle, then scrap and crush the car, giving the entire proceeds from its recycling and scrap value to Raigmore Hospital NHS and to Maggie’s Highland Centre at Raigmore Hospital."
Raigmore Hospital Security staff told Cllr Macpherson they would look into the matter and place appropriate parking enforcement stickers to the car.
Cllr Macpherson added: "I have previously voiced my anger and frustration at individuals flouting the intended use of the hospital car park.
"This is despicable behaviour by anyone thinking of doing this at any time, but is particularly heartless during the current coronavirus pandemic and increased expectations required by all NHS staff, carers and key workers.
"These car parking spaces should only be used by the dedicated and hard-working NHS staff and hospital patients coming to the daily outpatient clinics, or family members visiting a loved ones receiving treatment in the hospital.
"Let’s all help our NHS staff and patients arriving for hospital appointments by only using the car park for its intended use, not as a Park & Ride car park or a Park & Fly as was highlighted back in 2017."
NHS Highland has been contacted for comment.
