Press release 24th April 2010
The East Kilbride Alliance Party would like to intimate to the people of East Kilbride that they are not contesting the forthcoming General Election. When the party was formed in 2006 it decided that it would be a party to represent the people of East Kilbride at local level and to campaign on local issues which affect the people of East Kilbride in their everyday life. That is still the main objective of the East Kilbride Alliance Party and that is the reason they are campaigning for patients to have free car parking when they attend Hunter Health Centre. To date they have collected in excess of 3500 paper signatures and still collecting. They have also set up an on-line petition for interested parties to sign. As well as collecting signatures, the East Kilbride Alliance have also been checking out the position of both the Health Board and South Lanarkshire Council in relation to this car park. They will issue further information when it is afforded to them by the relevant bodies. However if you feel strongly about having to pay 70p every time you visit the Hunter Health Centre, the East Kilbride Alliance would urge you to sign either the petition in the Hunter Health Centre of the on-line petition. It is only through public support that this matter can be resolved.
Charges at Calderglen
The East Kilbride Alliance recognises another demonstration of South Lanarkshire’s Council’s disrespect for the people of the town, by the introduction of a charge to visit the Conservatory and Children’s Zoo at Calderglen. This facility has been enjoyed by the people and particularly children of East Kilbride for many years, and this enjoyment is now being taxed.
The council now charges £1 for adults (those aged over 16). The Alliance believes that Calderglen should remain free particularly to the people of East Kilbride and demand that residents are given back free admission. We understand that no other facility in South Lanarkshire such as Chatelherault Country Park has introduced charges and are therefore bemused why East Kilbride has been singled out for this treatment.
The admission cost may appear modest but it must be recognised that many families visit the facilities frequently, the expense will for many add up to a considerably sum. SLC will provide a ‘season’ ticket for £25, but we regard this as a rise of £25 in Council Tax for those who live in East Kilbride. Moreover, there appears to be no discounts for those in receipt of benefits and for them this could well mean that the facility is enjoyed far less.
East Kilbride Alliance representative informs that this is, “the latest attempt by the council to devalue Calderglen and follows attempts to sell of Colonsay Field and the more recent decision to gift parts of the Park to provide football facilities, while ignoring the terrible state of football and other sporting facilities in the town which could be improved”.
The East Kilbride Alliance has been approached by a number of people
concerned about the parking charges at Hunter Health Centre.
One of the complainants passed on concerns to her local councillor,
however the councillor has not yet replied. Clare Keane,
East Kilbride Alliance representative for East Kilbride Central North
has looked into this issue on behalf of those who have requested help
from the Alliance and has begun a petition for people to sign
who are opposed to car parking charges at Hunter Health Centre.
To park at the car park adjacent to the Health Centre now costs
a minimum of 70p, and of course this charge can escalate if someone
needs to be at the Health Centre for longer. One lady who spoke
to the EK Alliance was attending a clinic for five consecutive days
and had to pay 70p each day for car parking so that she could have
her treatment. Clare also found out that many people were unaware
that if they were under 10 minutes parking while they picked up
their prescriptions they did not require to take their ticket to the
pay machine. If they used the ticket directly at the barrier without going
to the pay machine and their time is under 10 minutes then the barrier
will lift up to allow their car to exit. There is a notice at the entrance to
the car park but it does not make this very clear to car park users.
If the ticket is inserted into the pay machine within the first 10 minutes
the machine will then request a payment of 70p instead of showing
‘no payment due’ and returning ticket. This is outrageous.
EK Alliance believe these costs at a Health Centre are completely
unfair, particularly when compared to other Health Centres where
patients do not need to pay to park their cars..
A SLC official has stated that the reason why the car park is so
expensive is because, “the location of the Civic Centre, Ballerup Hall,
Dollan Aqua-centre and Atholl House car parks to the town centre,
they are considered as Town Centre car parks”. The Alliance believes
this is an outrageous position maintained by the council, and penalises
users of Hunter Health Centre, who are being charged for the privilege
of receiving medical services. This is clearly unfair as users of other
Health Centres in East Kilbride park free of charge.
East Kilbride Allaince are suggesting that all patients who are using
the Health Centre should be allowed to park for free by validating patients
parking cards inside the Health Centre. Clare Keane says, “a system
similar to the one which was used in the Dollan Baths could be
implemented thus ensuring patients have free car parking.”
Sign the petition on line
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/HHC0210/petition.html