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Hospital queues not our fault say drivers
CAB drivers have hit back at claims they were responsible for traffic chaos which prompted the removal of a taxi rank outside Southend Hospital.
The waiting area for taxis outside the hospital, in Prittlewell Chase, was moved 80m west over the Easter weekend in an effort to stop taxis blocking cars and ambulances from getting on to the site.
But the drivers have attacked the decision and insist barriers preventing cars getting into the car park were to blame for the congestion outside the hospital.
Ian Saxton, managing director of AC Radio Cabs, said: "Last Thursday there was a really long queue outside the hospital, but not a single taxi.
"The problem is the hospital has barriers, which mean cars have to wait on the main road to get in. I don't know how they ever got planning permission for them."
Mr Saxton added the rank outside the hospital was used as a feeder to a taxi site in the hospital grounds.
He said: "We want to provide a good service to the hospital and want taxis waiting for people outside, not the other way around."
The change came after traffic mayhem is thought to have delayed an ambulance carrying a heart attack victim.
Davina Millership, Southend Council's interim group manager for traffic, said: "The council, in the interests of safety, has taken immediate action to relocate the taxi waiting area to make sure ambulances carrying emergency patients can fully access the hospital at all times.
"We have been in discussions with taxi drivers about the decision."
Southend Hospital welcomed the decision to relocate the cab rank adding patients can use a decicated phone to call a cab.
Charlotte Humphries, the hospital's travel plan co-ordinator, said: "We are continuously looking for ways of easing traffic flow in and around the hospital site and actively encourage staff and visitors to consider greener methods of travel.
"I am delighted more staff are switching to cycling or walking. The hospital has given its full support to Southend Council's recent bid to become a new demonstration cycling town."
10:00am Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Jack Smith, Southend on 11:11am Thu 27 Mar 08
I fully agree with the Taxi drivers,
Who ever designed the hospital parking and who ever gave them permission to build it that way must be stupid.
It’s been a disaster since it started and still is.
The only thing I can think of was it must have been some kind of scam so that the hospital would be allowed to build the multi story parking at the back of the hospital.
Also it shows once again what a stupid idea it was to close Rochford hospital and send everyone to Southend.
The problem could easily be remedied just by narrowing the huge grass centre reservation and adding an extra lane outside the hospital.
I fully agree with the Taxi drivers,
Who ever designed the hospital parking and who ever gave them permission to build it that way must be stupid.
It’s been a disaster since it started and still is.
The only thing I can think of was it must have been some kind of scam so that the hospital would be allowed to build the multi story parking at the back of the hospital.
Also it shows once again what a stupid idea it was to close Rochford hospital and send everyone to Southend.
The problem could easily be remedied just by narrowing the huge grass centre reservation and adding an extra lane outside the hospital.
Posted by: steeve, southend on 2:24pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I cant see what is wrong with having people that have had an operation are ill or disabled wait for a taxi to be informed that people are waiting on the rank i am sure that the previous situation in existence for years could possibly have been working out effectively as town and traffic planners were not involved in designing it i cant believe that the taxi drivers would have worked out a system that could possibly work effectively for the benefit of patients/people and of course we need barriers there i am sure every body involved was consulted before this went ahead and how else could it be ensured that every one was paying for parking without the need to employ a parking attendant barriers clearly an excellent idea!incidentally isnt it nice to find a bit of tarmac near the barriers that hasnt got a pothole in actually feel safe going through that bit of road even on a motorbike.
I cant see what is wrong with having people that have had an operation are ill or disabled wait for a taxi to be informed that people are waiting on the rank i am sure that the previous situation in existence for years could possibly have been working out effectively as town and traffic planners were not involved in designing it i cant believe that the taxi drivers would have worked out a system that could possibly work effectively for the benefit of patients/people and of course we need barriers there i am sure every body involved was consulted before this went ahead and how else could it be ensured that every one was paying for parking without the need to employ a parking attendant barriers clearly an excellent idea!incidentally isnt it nice to find a bit of tarmac near the barriers that hasnt got a pothole in actually feel safe going through that bit of road even on a motorbike.
Posted by: Freddied, Westcliff on 3:32pm Thu 27 Mar 08
The cabbies are right. Since the new parking system was introduced about a year ago, it's been a joke getting into and out of the hospital. The system has caused the problem, nit the cab drivers. Reading the quotes from the Council and the hospital, it's pretty obvious there has been a concerted effort to take the cab rank away and to insist on people either phoning for a cab or walking another 100 yards. Not a clever idea for sick people!
Why not open up the access as it used to be, getting rid of the traffic queue across the main entrance and let the cabbies and the ambulances get back to working normally. What a pity the Council don't action other problems so quickly!
The cabbies are right. Since the new parking system was introduced about a year ago, it's been a joke getting into and out of the hospital. The system has caused the problem, nit the cab drivers. Reading the quotes from the Council and the hospital, it's pretty obvious there has been a concerted effort to take the cab rank away and to insist on people either phoning for a cab or walking another 100 yards. Not a clever idea for sick people!
Why not open up the access as it used to be, getting rid of the traffic queue across the main entrance and let the cabbies and the ambulances get back to working normally. What a pity the Council don't action other problems so quickly!
Posted by: Diane King, Westcliff-On-Sea on 4:46pm Thu 27 Mar 08
There is no way the taxis are to blame, the only ones at fault are the people who dreamt up the ridiculous parking scheme at the hospital. The taxis are vital to the patients and if it weren't for them a lot more people would need to drive to the hospital making the problem even bigger. Something needs to be done quickly to improve the access before someone dies because of sitting in a traffic jam instead of being treated in the hospital.
There is no way the taxis are to blame, the only ones at fault are the people who dreamt up the ridiculous parking scheme at the hospital. The taxis are vital to the patients and if it weren't for them a lot more people would need to drive to the hospital making the problem even bigger. Something needs to be done quickly to improve the access before someone dies because of sitting in a traffic jam instead of being treated in the hospital.
Posted by: puzzled on 11:21pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Can someone please tell me why the car park sign stated FULL when in fact the car park was damned near empty!!!
Can someone please tell me why the car park sign stated FULL when in fact the car park was damned near empty!!!
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