Call for prison visitors to pay for parking, too

Independent UKIP · 09-12-2007, 02:31 AM

Or more accurately if hospital patients and visitors have to pay for parking then prison visitors should also pay. That is a very good angle for a UKIP activist to have put on this contentious issue in my opinion. And not one I have ever come across before. So well done Mr Weatheritt.

Quote:

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The cost of charging domestic visitors would outweigh revenue received.”

If fellow forum members of whatever political persuasion are unable to comprehensively demolish that statement on multiple terms that will be very disappointing to me. Not that there is any obligation to respond or prizes involved!

Call for prison visitors to pay for parking, too - JournalLive

Quote:

Call for prison visitors to pay for parking, too

Dec 8 2007 by Dave Black, The Journal

A CALL has been made for people visiting relatives held in North-East prisons to be charged for car parking – to bring them in line with hospital patients and visitors who already have to fork out fees.

Forcing patients and visiting family members to pay to park at hospitals in the region is unfair when those visiting relatives serving sentences at local jails are allowed to park free for unlimited periods, it is claimed.

The call has come from Michael Weatheritt, a member of the Alnwick branch of the UK Independence Party, in response to the looming introduction of an 80p an hour charge for people parking at the town’s infirmary.

Widespread protests have been voiced over the amount that hospital patients and visitors are charged for parking – amid claims it is a tax on illness – and the huge sums which NHS trusts rake in from the fees every year.

Now Mr Weatheritt, who unsuccessfully stood as a UKIP candidate for a seat on Alnwick District Council at the May elections, says the situation is made even more unfair by the unlimited free parking for visitors to Acklington Prison, Castington Young Offenders’ Institution and other jails across the UK.

He added: “Some people have been griping about the parking charges being introduced at Alnwick Infirmary. I agree that it is terrible because they are sticking the boot in when people are at their most vulnerable.

“It made me wonder whether people are charged to park when they visit criminals in prison, and I discovered that parking at Acklington and Castington is free with no time limit. How is this justifiable?

“This has become a big talking point locally since I discovered the situation. It is completely unfair and, because I can’t see the hospital trusts scrapping parking charges, I believe we should call for charges to be brought in for people visiting prisons.

“Prisoners are there because they have broken the laws of the country, but patients are in hospital because they are ill or a victim of crime. We need to act now to rectify this anomaly.”

Berwick Liberal Democrat MP Alan Beith, whose constituency includes Acklington Prison and Castington YOI, said: “I don’t welcome the parking fees at hospitals, but I would not welcome them at prisons either.

“Hospitals are in areas where it is otherwise difficult to park but prisons are in relatively isolated locations. I think it would be a bad idea.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The cost of charging domestic visitors would outweigh revenue received.”

rjt · 09-12-2007, 08:14 AM

prisoners are in prision because they have broken the law but their loved ones have not they are victims of the crime as well. neither at prisons or hospitials should there be parking charges.

mkpdavies · 09-12-2007, 09:49 AM

I agree, but the bloke has a point. Why put the focus on hospitals BEFORE prisons? I don't understand why the costs should be any different for prisons to hospitals either.

kernow · 09-12-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjt

prisoners are in prision because they have broken the law but their loved ones have not they are victims of the crime as well. neither at prisons or hospitials should there be parking charges.

I've always thought it was a scandal that people had to pay for parking at Hospitals, I'm afraid I don't take the same view over Prisons!

Westcountryman · 09-12-2007, 11:52 AM

The Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske) hiked up parking charges in an effort to raise cash to pay debts.

rjt · 09-12-2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernow

I've always thought it was a scandal that people had to pay for parking at Hospitals, I'm afraid I don't take the same view over Prisons!

Well my view is as stated above, criminals are in prison ( or should be!) because they have broken the law, often people have suffered because of these crimes but often so do the prisoners familys, children being left without parents wives without husbands, often these familys can experience harsh financial hardships.

brian pearson · 09-12-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjt

often these familys can experience harsh financial hardships.

What and still afford a car ? Then again living in poverty in the UK does not preclude you owning cars, going on foreign holidays, buying plasma tellys etc.

I don't see why being disabled should entitle you to free parking in hospitals either. It doesn't follow that because you are entitled to a disabled badge you can't afford what able bodied visitors have to pay.

Not that I believe in parking charges at hospitals.

Westcountryman · 09-12-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian pearson

What and still afford a car ? Then again living in poverty in the UK does not preclude you owning cars, going on foreign holidays, buying plasma tellys etc.

I don't see why being disabled should entitle you to free parking in hospitals either. It doesn't follow that because you are entitled to a disabled badge you can't afford what able bodied visitors have to pay.

Not that I believe in parking charges at hospitals.

Perhaps a disabled person may need to visit a hospital more regularly than an able bodied person?

rjt · 09-12-2007, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian pearson

What and still afford a car ? Then again living in poverty in the UK does not preclude you owning cars, going on foreign holidays, buying plasma tellys etc.

I don't see why being disabled should entitle you to free parking in hospitals either. It doesn't follow that because you are entitled to a disabled badge you can't afford what able bodied visitors have to pay.

Not that I believe in parking charges at hospitals.

What they all travel by car? Although given the inadeqauceys of our transport systems a car has become rapidly a neccesity.

Any decent society protests its most vunerable, people who have realitves in prison are often victims too and they need our support.

brian pearson · 09-12-2007, 01:43 PM

Thought we were talking about visitors. Lots of able bodied people have to attend hospital regularly.

09-12-2007, 08:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
rjt Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Aldershot Posts: 5,488	prisoners are in prision because they have broken the law but their loved ones have not they are victims of the crime as well. neither at prisons or hospitials should there be parking charges. __________________ Mr Delors said that he wanted the European Parliament to be the democratic body of the community, The Commission to be The Executive and The Council Of Ministers The Senate. NO! NO! NO! (Margaret Thatcher 30 Oct 1990) Ignore List: The Prophets of ST Al the Unelectable.

09-12-2007, 09:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,183 Party: Libertarian Party	I agree, but the bloke has a point. Why put the focus on hospitals BEFORE prisons? I don't understand why the costs should be any different for prisons to hospitals either. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

09-12-2007, 11:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
Westcountryman Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Westcountry. Posts: 5,922 Party: None	The Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske) hiked up parking charges in an effort to raise cash to pay debts. __________________ Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam - "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-12-2007, 01:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
brian pearson Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: nottinghanshire Posts: 759	Thought we were talking about visitors. Lots of able bodied people have to attend hospital regularly.