The County has agreed with the Trust and the contractor that visitors’ parking permits will be available for residents temporarily affected by the works.

It has been agreed that 25 Visitor’s parking permits will initially be issued free of charge and resident’s will have a choice of the neighbouring parking zones for which they wish to have permits issued. If the works take longer than programmed OCC will consider issuing a second batch at that time. This arrangement is exclusively for the issue of Visitor’s permits so any persons wanting a specific Resident parking permit for a vehicle ( in their designated zone only) will need to pay accordingly as per normal protocols.

Visitor’s parking permits can be issued to any resident over the age of 17 (and regardless of whether they have a vehicle or not) upon production of a completed application form and supporting official proof of residency. This can either be a fully signed, termed, tenancy agreement, a most recent council tax bill or a bank statement/ utilities bill that is dated within the last 3 months. The application form and supporting document can either be presented in person at the Parking Shop on Speedwell Street, posted or scanned to the email address parking.shop@oxfordshire.gov.uk,

for them to be despatched first class. OCC pay all postage costs, with the exception of any requests for special delivery.

Here is the Parking Permit Application form you will need to fill in if you live in the affected areas and want to apply for visitors’ permits in advance.

Vital Energi has prepared a presentation on the various phases of the works. This can be seen on the Trust’s website (you have to scroll down to find it)

Vital Energi has set up a dedicated telephone number 0800 612 4039, and for specific questions an email address: hospitalenergyproject@ouh.nhs.uk.  Both have been established directly with the Trust project team and Vital Energi to respond to any queries related to this project.

There are signs that communication is improving from the hospitals’ Trust regarding the energy pipe works, and we look forward to working more closely with the Trust’s new communications officer who takes up position on 4 January.

We are asking that details of the above permit process are included in any impending leaflet drop by the Trust and/or contractor and will include these details in our next Focus leaflet.

There is currently on-going discussion about how the visitors’ parking permits will be funded as the County Council believes this cost should be borne by the project, not by taxpayers. The Parking Shop staff will keep a record all such additional visitors’ permits so that the total cost can be determined.

The implications of this alternative provision may mean that there is additional pressure on parking spaces In Highfield, New Headington and Central and North Headington.