NURSES at Blackpool Victoria Hospital have almost £100 squeezed out of pay cheques every year in car parking fees.

And it's all to make them use public transport despite the fact they work awkward shifts.

Notorious parking problems caused the NHS Trust and Blackpool Borough Council to send overspill to new car parking facilities at Blackpool Zoo.

But more spaces are needed and plans for another 200 spaces at a cost of £48 a year to members of staff are currently awaiting approval from the Secretary of State.

Blackpool planning chairman George Bancroft told the Citizen: "We have given our full backing to and indeed welcome the development at Blackpool Zoo.

"The present unused land is in dire need of development.

"However, hospital staff will still be charged annually for using these facilities just as they are on the main hospital site.

"This is because we wish to encourage staff to use public transport for the benefit of the community.

"The use of the new car parks will release spaces at the hospital site for visitors and patients."

But these moves mean staff have to walk much further and often in the dark to reach their place of work.

A member of staff at Victoria hospital told the Citizen: "It's all very well saying use public transport, but the infrastructure just isn't there.

"Staff who work shifts or live a distance away cannot get to work on time.

"Also this new zoo car park closes at 8pm and a lot of shifts don't finish until 9 or 10pm.

"The car park fee at the zoo is half that of the main site at £48 a year, but you have to walk twice as far.

"But even if you have paid out your £96 or whatever you are not guaranteed a space as sometimes they are taken up with the general public."

Staff have even been clamped as they attempt to carry out their life-saving duties.

RCN steward Andrew Goacher told the Citizen: "On three occasions staff have been clamped due to the public parking in the staff car park and staff members being forced to place their vehicle in the pay and display area.

"We were promised two and a half years ago the issue of public transport would be addressed, but are still waiting.

"Ideally, we would like to see safer parking nearer the hospital for workers - especially females - and public transport that is flexible to our needs."

In excess of 300 people are currently waiting for car parking permits and staff are told in interviews they will find elsewhere to park their vehicle.

The intended spaces on land at Blackpool Zoo are a bid to combat this, but Zoo manager Iain Valentine is concerned of the effect this may have on his business.

He told the Citizen: "We had a meeting today with project managers and we just hope the developments will be sympathetic to our own designs and future plans.

"We would like to develop the area adjacent to the car park and need to make sure our designated boundary is compatible with the zoo licensing act."

No-one from Victoria Hospital was available for comment.

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