PARKING at the John Radcliffe Hopsital has been a long-running problem over the years.

Patients and visitors have complained about their struggles accessing and parking at the Headington site, with queues described in the past as a ‘nightmare’.

Now, proposals to build a multi-storey car park at the John Radcliffe have been scrapped.

Here's a timeline of John Radcliffe parking stories we have covered:

January 2019

Despite long-running calls for a new car park, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) said its hands were tied due to planning guidelines which prevented the number of parking spaces being increased at the site.

It came after a total of 28 formal complaints were raised with OUH since January 2018 with the often hour-long queues described as a ‘nightmare’.

March 2019

John Radcliffe Hospital bosses revealed plans to install number plate recognition cameras (Automated Number Plate Recognition) and Variable Message Signs (VMS) as a way to improve the parking situation.

The new technology would provide quicker access and exit as visitors would not have to wait to take a ticket, while VMS would improve traffic flow around the hospital by allowing patients to see where the spaces are.

April 2019

Independent city councillor for Marston Mick Haines, called for more car bays at the hospital.

He set up a petition for a multi-storey car park which racked up nearly 100 signatures within hours.

It now has more than 6,000.

June 2019

Councillor Mick Haines' campaign to get the multi-storey car park built continued to gain support, but there was a big catch.

It was revealed that even if the car park was to go ahead, it would not lead to an increase in parking spaces.

This is in line with Oxford City Council’s guidelines of not increasing parking spaces in the area.

This meant that the same number of spaces as there are at present, would be condensed into one car park – albeit over more floors.

June 2019

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) confirmed it was aiming to file a planning application for a multi-storey car park at the John Radcliffe hospital before the end of the year.

August 2019

Thousands had signed the petition for a multi-storey car park. The signature count rose to 4,517.

February 2022

Proposals to build the multi-storey car park at the John Radcliffe were scrapped.

A shuttle bus service to the site is being considered instead as it was ruled that increasing car parking makes traffic congestion worse rather than improving it. 

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