Hospital parking backflip

NEW pay-parking charges around Ipswich's two hospitals have been suspended after less than a week.

Business owners and hospital visitors are unhappy with the new parking meters around the medical precinct. Picture: David Nielsen

NEW pay-parking charges around Ipswich's two hospitals have been suspended after less than a week.

Ipswich City Council called a halt to the new $1 an hour on-street parking fees yesterday morning following an outcry from members of the public.

Mayor Paul Pisasale said the council was now working to address the concerns of patients and those who work in the affected areas,

Ipswich City Council's new CBD parking meters started operating over the weekend.

"We're suspending parking charges around the hospital precinct until there is more consultation," Cr Pisasale said.

"Regulation parking is a must for a city that's going through the changes we are. But I think the hospital is a special case.

"The number of medical services has grown significantly during the last few years.

"This is placing an increased demand on street parking for patients of both hospitals and doctors.

"The intention of metered parking is to encourage a turnover of spaces to provide a reasonable opportunity for patients to access parking close to their appointment. We can't have all the parking taken up by staff."

He said metered parking would be deferred in the eastern end of Roderick St, Pring St, Warwick Rd, top of East St from Roderick St, Ginn St and Churchill St.

Mobility store Walk on Wheels owner Bruce Saville, whose store is near Ipswich Hospital, said the meters would hurt business and be a distraction to elderly patients.

"How many times have you been to a doctor and the appointment has been on time?" he said.

Mr Saville said the businesses near the parks were not consulted before the meters were installed.

Lisa New has been visiting her husband Phillip at Ipswich Hospital since he broke both bones in his shin in a bicycle accident.

"I have no income; he has no income due to his injury, I've watched the parking meters come up without any warning with a two-hour limit," she said.

"I can't, number one, pay it, and number two it limits me to a two-hour visiting period which is incomprehensible given the seriousness of his injury."

Similarly Kim Nelson has been visiting her husband Andrew in hospital since he nearly lost his foot in a cement auger in March.

"I'll be going back for at least another 18 months, the surgeon told me just the other day," she said.

"We're down to 75% of his wages now.

"We pay $320 a week in rent. By the time you buy food, you pay your electricity bills and things like that and then you've got things like this hitting you on top of everything else; it's just ridiculous."

Originally published as Hospital parking backflip