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Inconsiderate parking "putting lives in danger" in Bristol

Fire crews in Bristol fear inconsiderate parking around the city's new hospital at Southmead is so bad, lives are "being put in danger". The issue was highlighted this morning on roads so tight with cars, fire engines were unable to drive down them.

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Southmead hospital's multi-storey car park to be completed within a year

Southmead hospital say their multi-storey car park will be completed in less than a year.

This will create a total of 2,700 car parking spaces for staff and visitors which should help to reduce the traffic congestion in the surrounding area.

The hospital have issued the following statement:

North Bristol NHS Trust welcomes the work of the Police and Fire Service in tackling illegal and inconsiderate parking in the roads around Southmead Hospital.

We have written to all of our staff asking them to park considerately if they choose to use nearby roads. However, we do not have any jurisdiction over people parking on the public highway.

Construction of a new multi-storey car park for staff and visitors next to the Brunel building is well underway and will be complete within less than a year.

Additional staff parking is also being provided, bringing the total number of spaces on the Southmead Hospital site to 2,700 by early next year.

– North Bristol NHS Trust

Inconsiderate parking "putting lives in danger"

Leaflets being placed on cars which are parked in the way of emergency vehicles Credit: ITV News

Fire crews in Bristol fear inconsiderate parking around the city's new hospital at Southmead is so bad, lives are "being put in danger".

The issue was highlighted this morning on roads so tight with cars, fire engines were unable to drive down them. Police issued tickets to the worst offenders.

The hospital says an extra 2,700 parking spaces will be available on site by next Spring.

People fail to appreciate the the width of fire appliances - quite obviously the van and car will be able to proceed through but we are going to have difficulty and obviously it will cause a delay and for an emergency it causes problems

– Nathan Jones, Avon Fire & Rescue Service

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What's your experience of parking at Southmead hospital?

Credit: ITV News

The multi-million pound Southmead hospital in Bristol is facing criticism over a lack of parking. Staff and visitors are reported to be 'fighting' over spaces, with many residents in the area seeing their own roads clogged up with hospital traffic.

What's your experience of parking at the hospital? If you live nearby - what's been the impact on your roads?

Comment on our Facebook page with your location and you could be featured in our programme tonight.

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