Selfless Stone surgery staff giving up parking spaces for patients

Mansion House Surgery in Abbey Street is in the middle of an extension project, with some of the car park being taken up by building contractors.

Rather than expect elderly patients to travel further than they need to for appointments, more than 10 staff members gave up their parking rights and instead walk from the nearby Westbridge Park long stay car park.

County Councillor Philip Jones called on Stafford Borough Council to offer 'season pass' style parking for the duration of the building work, which could reduce the amount staff are expecting to pay from £234 to £114.

Despite long stay car parks offering this option in Stafford, the request to extend the scheme to these workers in Stone was turned down, with council bosses saying the move would be 'unfair to favour one group'.

Councillor Jones said: "I'm very pleased about the extension. All in all it's a good thing.

"But Stafford Borough Council has decided it won't lend a hand on this.

"The car park was already congested, because people used it for shopping. Now half the car park has had to be given over the building contractors and more than 10 members of staff have given up their spaces for patients.

"You'd have though the borough council would be jumping on the table at this extension, in a town with a growing and ageing population, where waiting times are already high.

"Now I'm going to see if the County Council has any land that we can make available for them. I've got the county council property people looking through their plans. Other than that, it's just the weight of public opinion that will make Stafford Borough Council change their mind.

"It's very frustrating. We're not asking for anything they wouldn't be entitled to in Stafford."

Ted Manders, Head of Planning and Regeneration at Stafford Borough Council, said: "We could not agree to this request as it would be unfair to favour one group by offering them a discount when others aren't entitled to the same.

"Perhaps the car parking cost could be built into the business model for extending the surgery.

"In the long term we would be happy to review car parking in Stone and the possibility of bringing in a permit scheme. This could be done at the next review."