July 22, 2022 3.41 pm This story is over 35 months old

Lincoln car park operator promises cheaper fares for prison and hospital visitors

Hopes of contract extension for another five years
The car park next to Lincoln Prison has provided low-cost alternative to the hospital itself. | Image: Google Streetview

The operator of a 170-space car park next to Lincoln prison said it is offering a low-cost alternative to the hospital-managed car parking, as it looks for permission to carry on its work.

Watch This Space Property Development was originally given permission in 2017 to run the temporary car park off Greetwell Road for five years, and is now asking the City of Lincoln Council for five further years until 2027.

Documents submitted to the authority said that demand for off-street car parking in the area has “increased significantly” in recent years, with new parking restrictions being brought in along surrounding roads.

“The additional car parking provision has been well received by visitors to the prison and the hospital, and provided an alternative facility, without which the on-street car parking in the area would once again become problematic in neighbouring areas,” said the report.

It adds that the site supports the needs of United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust staff and visitors, particularly as recent hospital expansions have “resulted in a lack of hospital car parking spaces which this site currently supports”.

New “low value” contract parking was introduced by the owners and allocated for hospital staff and contractors.

“For visitors, it has historically provided a car parking solution for people of lower incomes who have difficulty paying higher charges when regularly visiting the hospital,” added the document.

“The temporary car park supports both the hospital and the prison in providing car parking, and the tariffs are considerably lower — so a source of more affordable parking for people of lower incomes who have difficulty paying higher charges when regularly visiting the hospital.”

Income generated by the car park has been donated to services hat support prisoners and their families, including projects to reduce re-offending.

The application has been supported by Deputy Governor of Lincoln Prison Andy Burton, who said: “Utilising the HMP land and providing a pay and display car park open the general public has enabled the prison to provide a better service to our staff and visitors, maximise its assets and provide a revenue stream to be used for reducing re-offending projects and income that has helped to protect against prison funding pressures.”