Change of signs at Whittington Hospital ‘but wardens still heartlessly give patients tickets’

Published: 10th June, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

DOZENS of elderly and disabled drivers and their carers are still being “heartlessly” given parking tickets outside Whittington Hospital because of poor signs, it was claimed this week.

Lib Dem councillor Tracy Ismail complained that confusing “no-loading” signs had been replaced by A4-size “no- parking” signs, easily missed by many blue badge drivers. 

No-parking restrictions operate between 6am and 9am and 4pm and 7pm outside the hospital in Magdala Avenue, Archway. Most patients get fined after 4pm when their appointments run late. 

Cllr Ismail said the new signs attached to lampposts are so small that, from a short distance, they look like advertising posters.

She added: “Parking wardens are still heartlessly handing out tickets to disabled and elderly drivers or their carers whose appointments run late.

“It’s really tragic. Many disabled and elderly people are already ex­tremely hard up. Getting a £60 ticket can be the equivalent of going with­out a week’s shopping.”

Cllr Ismail called for proper signs outside the hospital to end the confusion. She urged Islington Council and the hospital to consider freeing more parking spaces for the elderly and disabled.

“We have an appalling situation where disabled people are being forced to park some distance from the hospital and then walk or use wheelchairs,” she said.

“We must have more accessibility for society’s most vulnerable people. How about freeing up space in the hospital staff car park? People who don’t need to shouldn’t be driving to work.”

Retired secretary Teresa Custins was fined £60 when she collected her 87-year-old mother Margaret from the hospital. 

“The signs are not clear and in the rush to get mum I got a parking ticket,” said Ms Custins, from Essex Road, Angel.  “I wanted to dispute it because it was unfair but mum didn’t want the trouble and insisted I pay up.”

Labour transport chief Councillor Paul Convery said: “Parking must be fair – for this reason we’ve added signage to make restrictions clearer.  

“We must also keep the access free for buses and ambulances. So, to improve the situation, we’re consulting on increasing waiting times on Magdala Avenue while removing off-peak blue badge parking from the front of the hospital where priority access is for ambulances.

“We’ll always take personal circumstances into consideration when a ticket is appealed.”