RESIDENTS near Sunderland Royal Hospital have until the close of business today to have their say on plans to tackle problem parking.
The deadline for returning voting forms for Phase Two of a possible Hospital Parking Management Scheme is 5pm.
Every household or business in the area covered by the scheme has a vote.
Forms were sent to more than 600 residents and businesses last month, along with information leaflets outlining proposals for the second phase, and a series of information events has been held across Barnes, Millfield and Pallion wards.
More than 400 forms have already been returned.
A first phase of the scheme was introduced in December 2011, amid mounting anger about inconsiderate parking outside homes and businesses around the hospital.
A public consultation exercise saw many streets voting in favour of changes, including parking permits for homes and businesses.
Council leader Paul Watson said: “We hope everyone has taken this opportunity to share their views and opinions with us, and have tried to provide as much information as we could to help them.
“The community has a vital role to play in helping us to decide what further parking changes we should make in this area to help balance the needs of residents and the hospital.
“Once people have made their minds up based on all the information provided, we will count the votes.
“Then we act on the majority decision of the residents to implement whatever elements of the Phase Two which they’d like us to introduce.”
Susan Adamson, chairman of the working group of residents and councillors which helped devise the scheme, said: “Everyone we have talked to who live in the streets within the pilot scheme are absolutely delighted with the difference it has made to their lives.
“Our residents’ group got together with the council to see what could be done to alleviate the parking problems in this area and the situation has really improved with the permit scheme.”
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