Staff threaten to quit in NHS Kirklees parking row

Dec 31 2009 by Kevin Core, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HEALTH staff are threatening to quit in a parking row.

NHS Kirklees employees say a lack of parking facilities at their new base will create travel misery, with some warning they will not move.

The new Trust HQ to be based at Bradley Business Park suffers what workers call a massive under-provision of spaces and has resulted in a parking permit for some staff but not others.

One employee told the Examiner that although preparations to move in for February 2010 were continuing, many of the overwhelmingly female staff were considering resigning because the use of their cars was integral to their childcare needs.

The source said: “The trust is now making all colleagues apply for car parking permits, which have to be paid for from monthly wages and will be issued to only those who fit certain criteria.

“They are issuing more permits than spaces so colleagues will be paying for a permit and not guaranteed a space which we feel is ludicrous.

“About 400 people are expected to be based there, but there will only be between 100 and 150 car park spaces

“Permits are dependant on wages but the cheapest is expected to cost about £30, but there is no guarantee of a space.

“Added to the permit we need to pay for pay and display parking every day too.

“We do know parking is not a condition of employment, but Bradley Park is not the easiest place to get to by other means.

“We are not getting enough support from the trust. Working from home has been an option given to colleagues however many managers and directors are not supporting this to all staff.

“We just don’t know how we are going to get to work.

“Many staff are considering resigning and it is causing much stress to many of us at NHS Kirklees as we all don’t know how we are going to get to work.

“We all feel it is frustrating because there are many sites in Huddersfield which would have been more suited. Although we know it is too late in the day to change locations we feel more consideration should have been given in the early stages.

“NHS Kirklees has 92% of women working for them with the majority having children and under the new parking arrangements many women are having to re-think options for looking after children.”