Parking fees questioned at Ridge Meadows Hospital
Posted June 25, 2013 9:55 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS1130) – Parking fees at Ridge Meadows Hospital have one man taking a stand to get them reduced.
Grover Telford says frequent hospital visitors and those on fixed incomes simply cannot afford the parking rates at the hospital and have no other choices.
Fraser Health Authority handles the rates and says they’re meant to be slightly below market value.
Telford doesn’t see it that way but isn’t advocating free parking.
He says he’s just looking for a fair shake considering there are no alternatives.
“I’m a reasonable person. I mean if it can be reduced to a reasonable level, I’d be happy with that. I don’t see why that can’t happen. If the fees were reasonable, I mean let’s say in line what we pay for instance at the leisure centre where the first hour is free.”
To that end, he’s started the POPP or Perturbed over Paid Parking and plans to begin a petition to have the parking rates lowered.
Telford says most people who use the hospital, simply can’t afford it.
“This is like $3.50 an hour, $20 a day, it’s extortion.”
The Health Authority does offer a variety of reduced rates and discounts to long-term and frequent users.
Around a third of fees collected go to maintenance, the rest go to the Health Authority’s operating budget.
