Hull Royal Infirmary car parks awarded for safety and accessibility

Hull Royal Infirmary has 3 car parks which now have both Safer Parking and Disabled Parking Accreditation with a total of 168 spaces of which 72 are accessible bays.

The Front Disabled, Women & Children’s Centre and Clinical Skills car parks were assessed in May this year and all 3 met the standard to receive the awards.

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: “I am delighted that Hull Royal Infirmary has achieved 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.”

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

Graham Footer, Chief Executive of Disabled Motoring UK said: “We are thrilled that Hull Royal Infirmary has achieved the Disabled Parking Accreditation.  This not only officially recognises the facility as accessible and safe for disabled users, but acknowledges the effort that has been put into creating a car park to the accreditation standard.”

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.

Photo (left to right):  Ryan Davey, Safer Parking Scheme Area Manager; PC Andy Norman, Humberside Police; Marc Dias, Designing Out Crime Officer & Park Mark Accredited Assessor, Humberside Police; Duncan Taylor, Director of Estates, Facilities and Development, Hull Royal Infirmary; Joe Moore, Security & Parking Contract Manager, OCS Group UK Ltd; PC Waqas Tariq, Humberside Police.