Home carers call for parking permits

HOME care workers are calling for council chiefs to introduce a new parking permit scheme to enable them to park free outside clients' homes.

Carer Linda Brown, who works for Amphion Home Care Services, Scunthorpe, said: "We are worried when we go to some clients' homes, there is no where to park and we can't park on yellow lines nearby their homes or we will get parking tickets.

"The only thing we can do is find a space near to the house, which can be streets away or park in a car park and pay for a ticket."

The care workers help residents to live independently in their own homes including dressing, washing and cooking for them.

Tracey Fieber, 44, who works for the same home care service, said: "We do not get paid much and to pay for parking on top of that would hardly be worth making the call, especially as we can be at a clients home three or four times a day."

Mrs Fieber said many carers in the area are finding similar problems.

She said: "This is a problem that all carers are facing in North Lincolnshire. All we are asking is for us to be able to do our jobs.

"If we have to take extra time to park in car parks and walk to clients we will be late for the appointments."

Carers are hoping a solution can be found to enable them to access their clients without fear of any financial reprisal.

Mrs Brown said: "Until this new parking scheme came into force we did not have problems.

"We cannot afford to get parking tickets and we hope something can be done to help us access clients more easily."

The pair are writing to North Lincolnshire Council to ask for some help and the possibility of setting up a new parking permit scheme.

Pete Scott traffic and road safety manager for North Lincolnshire Council said parking restrictions have not changed since North Lincolnshire Council took over parking enforcement duties from the police.

He said: "There is no automatic exemption for healthcare workers."

However, he said a dispensation may be granted, but an application would have to be made to the council for this and they would be looked at on an individual basis.

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