Parking at Frankston Hospital hard to come by as council tightens restrictions

PARKING has descended into chaos around a hospital in Melbourne’s southeast after a council tightened restrictions in surrounding streets.

Frankston hospital staff can't get parks and are being fined. They are upset about the recent changes by Frankston city council. All day parking in surrounding streets has been changed to three hours only. Picture: Paul Loughnan

PARKING chaos around Frankston Hospital has been exacerbated after Frankston Council tightened restrictions in surrounding streets.

Hospital staff and visitors are up in arms after all-day parking spaces were changed to three-hour zones, forcing them to constantly move their cars.

One staff member, who asked not to be named, said the situation was so dire she parked at her parents’ Frankston house and then got them to drive her to work.

The latest parking fury comes after the closure of the Evelyn St public carpark in central Frankston to accommodate South East Water staff. More than 150 all-day parking spaces were lost there, forcing angry workers to make other arrangements.

The Leader last week witnessed many frustrated hospital staff and visitors parking at both nearby Frankston Bowling Club and Frankston Tennis Club.

A nurse, who did not want to be named, said staff were battling with the changes.

“As a result of changes, staff are being forced to park further away and are facing frequent fines,” she said. “Staff have been fined for parking in the new three-hour zone in Williams Rd and several staff were fined $152 for parking in the Frankston Tennis Club.”

A visitor, Heather, said she was frazzled after driving around at the hospital and being unable to find a park. She subsequently parked at the tennis club.

Council chief executive Dennis Hovenden said unrestricted parking on the north side of Williams St and the south side of High St had been changed to three-hour parking, with resident permit parking excepted.

“The objectives were to increase parking turnover and availability for residents and their visitors, along with visitors to the George Pentland Botanic Gardens and Frankston Hospital,” he said.

Peninsula Health acting executive director of planning and infrastructure Rick Law said the hospital was not formally notified of the changes.

“When Peninsula Health became aware of the change in off-street parking, a memo was sent to all hospital staff,” he said.

Mr Law said a business case to construct a new 600-space carpark was being prepared for board approval.