Harrogate hospital to remove parking barriers to ease traffic queues

A new parking system is set to be introduced in a bid to ease queues outside Harrogate District Hospital.

Residents and visitors have reported long lines of traffic approaching the hospital on Lancaster Park Road, particularly at visiting times in the afternoon.

Now, the hospital said it will remove parking barriers and introduce a new system to help traffic move more freely around the car park and its approaches.

A Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said:

“We are aware that at certain periods of the day, such as during visiting hours, Lancaster Park Road can become congested with traffic due to an increase in the number of drivers wanting to park at our hospital.

“We understand that this is not ideal for patients and visitors, especially at peak times, and we have been looking at how we can improve the flow of traffic onto our site to ease congestion.

“Entry to our car park is currently controlled by a barrier, however, later this year this will be removed in favour of an alternative parking system, which will help with flow into the car park.”

One nearby resident who contacted the Stray Ferret said it was a daily problem for visitors to the hospital.

Bill Shaw told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s total gridlock and the hospital car park is full! people who have appointments or just visiting have nowhere to park – a weekly day fiasco.

“The ambulances on blue lights have to negotiate this time wasting problem.”

The hospital spokesperson said Yorkshire Ambulance Service had not raised any concerns about delays or access problems caused by traffic.

He added:

“Due to the limited space on our hospital site we are currently unable to increase our car parking capacity and we would encourage visitors to consider other means of visiting if they are able to do so, such as by public transport or walking.”

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Long queues outside Harrogate shop after pubs close

A Harrogate resident has sent us a video of large queues forming outside a shop in the town immediately after the pubs closed.

The footage shows dozens of people waiting outside Tesco Express on Cambridge Road at 10.02pm on Saturday.

Phil Riverside, the Harrogate resident who captured the scenes, raised his concerns about the gathering. He said “it just doesn’t make sense”.

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He also echoed fears nationally that a pub curfew at 10pm will move groups out of the venue’s controlled environment and out onto the streets.

The Stray Ferret took the video to North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council. The council said it was a matter for the police and the police declined to comment.

While it is not on the same level of a gathering in York’s city centre from last month, the police have previously committed to dispersing groups.

Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for North Yorkshire Police’s response to Covid-19, previously said:

“It’s very clear that we are at a turning point now, where everyone’s personal choices will have a significant effect upon the rate at which this virus spreads over the coming weeks.”

We also showed the footage to Tesco. The store did not want to comment on this specific case but said it follows all government guidance on coronavirus.

WATCH: Shoppers feel like “we’ve been let out of prison”

Today, non-essential shops pulled up their shutters for the first time since lockdown began.

By mid-day, Harrogate town centre was filled with shoppers, many saying they were grateful to see the return of ‘some sort of normality.’

Queuing lanes have been erected outside stores to ensure customers are kept several metres apart, and customers are being asked to use the hand sanitisers provided when entering and leaving each shop.

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One shopper told the Stray Ferret:

I feel like I have been let out of prison, although I have never been in prison, it’s just absolutely lovely to be back. I have been shopping online but nothing compares to being able to see what your buying.

But not everyone feels the need to return to the shops just yet, one woman said:

 I feel no desire to go into the shops just yet, I possibly think it’s too soon, another couple of weeks then maybe.

It will be a welcome relief to those whose jobs and livelihoods rely on the retail sector as they look to start rebuilding their businesses once again.