Leigh Infirmary staff have to park somewhere - 4 angry letters

I am a member of staff who works at Leigh Infirmary and currently park considerately on Orchard Lane.

I have been on the waiting list for more than 12 months with the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust for a parking permit that will cost me £26 per month, which I am willing to pay if I can actually get one.

Staff do park on and around Orchard Lane but I have never seen any cars on yellow lines or blocking driveways.

We are actually entitled to park anywhere as we all pay road tax.

I have witnessed staff being abused and shouted at by residents and also cars have been badly damaged and scratched when parked outside some houses.

The issue with the lack of car parking spaces has constantly been escalated to the trust board with no resolution in sight.

At the end of the day we need somewhere to park so we can care for people in hospital and the community and do our jobs.

Diane Addison

Senior nurse practitioner

Leigh Infirmary

I FEEL the need to put straight a few of the issues written about the parking situation on Orchard Lane.

I am indeed one of the people that park on Orchard Lane at times in the day.

Firstly I have never parked close to corners or on double yellow lines.

Many of the NHS staff have had their cars damaged by the residents of this street for parking there.

I understand the frustration that some residents can't park outside their own house. Neither can I, but people pay road tax and you cannot dictate that someone cannot park in front of your house.

Secondly I would like to say that I have been waiting for a parking pass for more than a year.

They cost £26 a month, which I am willing to pay for, but there are non available.

Also I wonder how many residents actually pay to park at their place of work.

Meanwhile I need to get to work and park up so I can look after people's relatives who are ill.

Fay Hurst

STR worker

Pennington Unit at Leigh Infirmary

I AM writing in response to a letter in the Journal regarding Leigh Infirmary staff parking on Orchard Lane.

May I inform residents and the author that these staff are unable to gain a parking permit by the trust and are willing to pay £26 per month for this privilege of attending their workplace.

However have no other option but to park on the nearest streets until this becomes available to them.

I am perplexed at the attitude of residents in this area and their response to staff for parking on the road so that they can attend work.

May I also remind the residents that the work is providing care. This could be care for a friend, relative or even themselves one day.

I am very fortunate to have a parking permit but I have seen the distress of staff when they have gone back to their cars to find them vandalised for parking on streets.

They have then had to pay for repairs out of their hard earned wages.

May I also state that these are people who pay road tax and have the right to park on these roads.

Gaynor Hall

Nurse practitioner

Leigh Infirmary

I WOULD like to respond to a letter in the Journal regarding parking on Orchard lane.

I would like to correct the author as the parking is £26 a month, not £20 as stated in their letter.

Also the NHS staff have not received any form of government pay rise for five years.

What they failed to mention is that NHS staff have repeatedly had their cars damaged by residents.

The gate entrance to the infirmary has been glued and damaged and dog faeces has been left on staff’s vehicles.

This has been reported to the police on each occasion.

I understand the frustration of these residents but NHS staff are not parking illegally and they pay road tax.

The NHS staff have a very difficult and demanding job working in the community and a bit more understanding would be appreciated.

Jacqueline Collier