Parking Eye in Hospital

Coupon-mad wrote: »

If it was 11pm, why is Dee telling you that the rules were to register the Badge at Reception? The sign doesn't say that, it tells you about an unidentified 'security office' that you merely have to 'report to'.

Thanks so much C-M!

I appreciate all your time and effort to help me formulate a response here...

It was 11 pm, the car entered at 22:50 and left at 23:56.

I have replied to Dee, but also cc'd in PALS telling them they should be ashamed that she is sending out such fob-ff replies and if she choses not to respond to my points or to cancel the fine then I wish to escalate the complaint with PALS to their next stage.

Dee's Response;

I can advise that your parking charge was looked into and my response was not influenced by ParkingEye in anyway.

Parking enforcement is not disallowed by the Government and the trust’s parking complies with all Government regulations. The signage around the site is also approved by the BPA (British Parking Association).

The procedure to make all blue badge holders register their badges upon each visit was introduced in 2013 and was designed to tackle the misuse of blue badges. This system has proved very successful and has freed up blue badge bays for genuine blue badge holders.

You have referred to the Freedom of Information Act. In order to respond to you quickly and not complicate the matter unduly, I have dealt with all your questions together and not referred your letter to our Freedom of Information team for response. However if you would prefer that your questions are dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act, please contact the team at rf.foi@nhs.net

I have answered the rest of your questions below in bold.

I regret to advise that I still stand by my original decision that the parking charge was issued correctly and that there are no grounds to cancel.

I understand you still have a right of appeal via POPLA following your unsuccessful appeal to Parking Eye. If you wish to further contend your PCN I would advise you follow that route.

Regards


Her responses to my points which I sent her

1. whether the alleged obligation to register a Blue Badge at reception was visible from the disabled bay used, at night? - Yes

2. how you think supplying me with a copy of a previously unknown 'Blue Badge Rights & Responsibilities booklet' for my reference after the event is helpful? - This is a genuine document issued by the Government which advises the correct usage of a blue badge

3. how you think a Blue Badge holder has any 'responsibility' to take specific extra steps to avoid 'fines', than able bodied motorists who have no such hoop to jump through? - It is the blue badge holders responsibility to use the badge appropriately. If the blue badge holder is the driver of the vehicle, then it is the drivers responsibility to read the parking signage provided. Please also refer to page 17 of the guidance in regards to places you need to check before parking.

4. how a Blue Badge holder would guess they should not display the Badge on the dashboard, as is the case in any other situation on street or in car parks? - They need to read the parking signage displayed within any car park, whether at a hospital, train station, supermarket – no parking rules and regulations are the same at all sites. It is the drivers responsibility to read the signs. Please also refer to page 17 of the guidance in regards to places you need to check before parking

5. as it was dark (11pm) how were we supposed to see the unlit signs? - There is sufficient lighting for signage to be read

6. as it was 11pm, why does your generic reply tell me that the rules were to register the Badge at Reception? The sign doesn't say that (now that I have a photo taken in broad daylight). I see that it tells drivers about an unidentified 'security office' that you merely have to 'report to'. - The signs indicate that the blue badge must be taken to the main reception or out of hours to the security office. As the parking charge was issued at 11pm at night, the main access in and out of the hospital would be via security.

7. is that the 'contract' I am alleged to have breached, a failure to (before seeking health care) report to 'security'...an office that has no signposting, nor does the sign set out any obligation to actually do anything when so 'reporting'? - The security office is clearly indicated

8. in hours of darkness do able-bodied drivers also have to find their way to this 'security office'? Or is that just an extra hoop for the disabled people in society, many of whom visit Hospital and certainly do not have such rules at the forefront of our mind - you cannot enter the hospital out of hours without passing the security office. Registering provides you with 4 hours free parking. If you do not register you can park in a non-designated blue badge space and pay £3 per hour as per all other users. Please also refer to page 17 of the guidance in regards to places you need to check before parking

9. why the NHS Trust does not cancel these fines immediately, if a Blue Badge is shown at appeal stage, given the fact that I meet the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010? - Blue badge holders like able-bodied drivers are required to follow the rules and regulations which govern parking at any site. Most appeals will be cancelled for the first offence where it can be proved that the badge was used by the authorised holder, which unfortunately is not the case in this instance. Please also refer to page 17 of the guidance in regards to places you need to check before parking

10. whether you or any staff members in the Car Parking 'team' (or anywhere on site) are in whole or in part, remunerated by ParkingEye? Or whether a payment is made towards running costs/dealing with complaints? If yes, how much is paid by ParkingEye and to fund what? -The trust receive no remuneration from Parking Eye and they provide a single parking attendant to assist with traffic management and making payments at the parking machines Monday to Friday 07:00 to 15:00. All other staff involved in parking at the Royal Free Hospital are employed by the trust.

11. how many complaints have you had in the last calendar year about ParkingEye (whether fobbed off or not)? How many of that total were cancelled? – We do not keep data on the types of parking complaints received or record the outcome of such complaints other than the outcome letter to the complainant.

12. how many were from disabled people showing Blue Badges? How many of that total were cancelled? – please refer to Q11