Castle Hill Hospital car parks receive national awards for safety and accessibility
Castle Hill Hospital car parks have been awarded both Safer Parking and Disabled Parking Accreditation. Nine car parks achieved the Park Mark award and 8 achieved Disabled Parking Accreditation in June 2021.
A Park Mark is awarded to parking facilities that pass a rigorous risk assessment conducted by the police and the British Parking Association. The assessments include management and maintenance of the facility, ensuring that there are appropriate levels of surveillance, lighting, signage and cleanliness. These criteria are known to reduce the opportunity for crime and create a safer environment for the motorist and their vehicle.
Ryan Davey, British Parking Association Area Manager, said: “Staff at Castle Hill Hospital have worked hard to achieve Park Mark and also the Disabled Parking Accreditation. These awards show commitment and hard work by staff to ensure facilities are kept to a high standard and cater for all users.”
Joe Moore, Security & Parking Contract Manager for APCOA said “I am delighted that Castle Hill Hospital has achieved Park Mark and also the Disabled Parking Accreditations. These awards not only show the commitment and hard work afforded to the facilities, they also show that our primary objective is to ensure safety and accessibility to all users”
Inspector Mark Lovell, Community Safety Unit, Humberside Police said, “When attending a hospital as a patient, visitor or member of staff, people should expect to feel safe and find their vehicle where and in the same condition they left it. This award recognises the commitment the team at Castle Hill have to ensuring the hospital is a safe place to work and visit”.
Tracy Rokahr, Designing Out Crime Officer, Humberside Police said, “I am delighted to welcome the nine Castlehill Hospital car parks to the Safer Parking Scheme, which were all recently awarded the Park Mark award. The nine car parks offer excellent facilities, incorporating all aspects of safety, security and management practices, and providing a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors.”
Car parks with the Park Mark award can use signage featuring the distinctive Park Mark tick, so that drivers know exactly where to go for safer parking. Early adopters of the scheme saw a dramatic drop in vehicle-related crime of over 80% showing that the initiative really does make a difference.
Personal safety and location have been cited as joint priorities when choosing where to park. There are currently 5000 car parks with the Park Mark award throughout the UK which can be found on a designated website www.parkmark.co.uk
There is a designated DPA website where disabled people can search for a car park with the accreditation and it’s great that disabled motorists in and around Hull Royal Infirmary can park with ease.
To qualify, car parks must have accessible bays that meet British standards, which are at least 2.4 meters by 4.8 meters with a 1.2 meter safety or transition zone marked with cross patterned stripes along one side of the bay.
Signage must give clear information and instructions for the use of a building and there should be level access between pedestrian entrances/exits and parking bays. Lifts or ramps must be provided where levels are not even. Lighting, payment machines and alternative payment methods also form part of the criteria as well as concessions where appropriate to allow disabled people additional time.
Could you spot a Park Mark car park? Have a go by taking this quiz www.britishparking.co.uk/parking-quiz
Photo: (left to right): Tyler Rokahr, Apprentice; Ryan Davey, British Parking Association Area Manager; Inspector Mark Lovell, Humberside Police; Duncan Taylor, Director Of Estates, Facilities & Development; Tracy Rokahr, Designing Out Crime Officer, Humberside Police; Joe Moore, APCOA Security and Parking Contract Manager
