Parking woes leave NHS staff hacked off at chaos
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TESCO, Police Scotland and Carlton Bingo have been dragged into a car parking row brewing at neighbouring NHS Highland’s financial headquarters where too many cars are vying for too few spaces.
The organisations sit next to the NHS site where staff numbers nearly doubled in recent weeks, leaving roughly four workers vying for every car parking space.
The situation, which comes after staff were relocated from another site axed last month to reduce overheads, has hit crisis point with NHS bosses now handing out laptops so some staff can work from home to ease pressure on the over-crowded car park.
One livid NHS worker said Tesco, Police Scotland, Carlton Bingo and another nearby business should feel morally compelled to give some of their spaces.
"This is ‘our’ NHS after all," he said. "It’s surely in everyone’s interest for the service to function."
But health bosses said theyhad already approached the firms asking for parking spaces but the request was turned down.
There was some leeway from Inshes Gate Premier Inn, however, which has provided 20 parking spaces for NHS staff to use under a permit scheme.
A health spokesman said hopes were now pinned on persuading more employees to work from home, or do flexible hours.
He said: "We have altered the core business hours of the building and that will enable staff to work flexibly and reduce the pressure on parking during the busiest periods."
Staff were relocated to Assynt House after their office leased by NHS Highland at the Inverness Retail park was shut as part of a cost-cutting plan.
The redesign, "done in consultation with all staff", means there are 270 workers now based at Assynt House vying for 78 parking spaces. A hacked-off employee, who gave their personal opinion, said: "Where are the staff supposed to park with no public car park facilities available nearby?
"The public transport service is unreliable and not everyone is within walking distance or able to be without access to a car."
NHS Highland said it was under no obligation to provide a parking space for everyone but it was trying to make it easier for people to cycle to work by extending the deadline on a discount bike buying scheme. More showers were being built at the site and cycle storage enhanced.
A spokesman for Tesco said: "Our priority is ensuring Tesco customers have access to the Tesco car park." No-one was available from Carlton Bingo and police chose not to comment.
Henry Dow, owner of the Greenhouse business community, home to 18 firms which also neighbour NHS Highland, said: "While I appreciate the difficulties with parking at Assynt House, we as landlords at the Greenhouse have a legal obligation to provide parking to our tenants.
"Unlike Inshes Gate Premier Inn we have tenants parking on a daily basis to conduct their business. As the Greenhouse is at full capacity we could not allocate spaces at this time."
