Care bosses in Aberdeen have told staff to get on their bikes, with a parking space shortage causing woes for residents.
The £7 million Rosewell House care home opened on Summerhill Road a decade ago, with 60 beds for residents.
Last year two-thirds of these were used to create a “halfway house” for people needing care between hospital level and home.
In the process, the average number of staff working there daily rose from 35 to 42. At times, there can be more than 60.
And this has caused a headache for health chiefs and their commuting employees.
Small car park led to anger from neighbours
The facility has 16 parking spaces plus two disabled spots – slightly short of the maximum possible to keep some green space.
This has led staff to park their cars on nearby streets – sparking outrage from residents in the process.
New double yellow lines were painted and the formal complaints stopped – but it’s left workers with limited options.
Chiefs have already agreed not to expand the car park as part of climate change efforts to “disincentivise” car use, leaving them searching for other solutions.
Options considered as ebike scheme ‘not used’
A report to go before this week’s Integration Joint Board in Aberdeen has outlined some of the options available.
Bosses previously offered staff an ebike to travel to and from work as part of a six-month trial.
“Although readily available, it was not utilised by staff,” the report noted.
However, there’s anecdotal evidence that a new bike shed installed in summer has encouraged staff to brave the steep hill leading to the centre on two wheels.
Elsewhere, bosses are encouraging workers who live locally to walk in, or offering information on bus timetables and car sharing.
There have also been discussions about expanding the NHS Grampian shuttle bus route to include Rosewell House.
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