Petition urges better parking at Oxford’s John Radcliffe

Key points

• A petition calling for a review of parking at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital has gathered close to 1,500 signatures.
• The campaign, started by councillor David Henwood, supports consideration of a multi-storey car park.
• More than 700 people have reportedly shared experiences of parking difficulties, including missed appointments and delayed journeys.
• The petition is due to be presented at a county meeting next month and delivered to the hospital.
• Previous campaigns in 2019 and 2022 attracted thousands of signatures, but no multi-storey facility has been delivered.
• More than 130 staff parking spaces were lost during construction of a new surgery hub, with no replacement plan reported.

Why is a petition calling for better parking at the John Radcliffe Hospital?

Oxford (Oxford Daily) October 16, 2026 — A petition calling for improved parking at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital has attracted close to 1,500 signatures, with campaigners urging the NHS trust, Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council to review parking provision and consider a multi-storey car park.

The campaign was started by councillor David Henwood after patients, visitors and current and former employees shared accounts of difficulty finding spaces at the Headington hospital. More than 700 people have reportedly contributed experiences in support of the petition.

Campaigners say parking shortages can create additional pressure for people attending appointments, visiting relatives or travelling to work. One account reported by local coverage described a woman missing the death of her mother after being unable to find a space.

The petition is expected to be presented at a county meeting next month and delivered to the hospital. It follows earlier appeals, including campaigns in 2019 and 2022 that also attracted thousands of signatures.

What are campaigners asking for?

Mr Henwood is calling for a formal review of parking and an assessment of whether a multi-storey or decked car park could increase capacity on the hospital site.

“The trust itself acknowledges that parking at the John Radcliffe is limited and advises people who need to drive to allow plenty of time to park,” Mr Henwood said, according to the Oxford Mail.

He said public transport, walking and cycling should be encouraged where practical, but argued that car access can be essential for some patients, visitors and staff.

“This is not about encouraging unnecessary car journeys. It is about making sure people can reach the care they need without extra stress,” Mr Henwood said.

He also said a multi-storey facility could make better use of limited land while providing accessible bays, electric vehicle charging and modern parking technology.

How has parking affected staff and hospital users?

Reports supporting the petition describe patients arriving early or struggling to reach appointments because car parks are full. Staff have also raised concerns about the effect of limited spaces on journeys to work and shift changes.

More than 130 staff parking spaces were reportedly lost in recent years during construction of a new surgery hub, without a replacement plan identified in the available coverage.

Separate local reporting said security guards had clamped vehicles parked in unauthorised areas. Some patients were reported to have walked up to 300 yards to reach the hospital entrance because staff vehicles occupied more convenient spaces.

The available reports do not establish that the petition has secured approval for new parking or that a construction project has been agreed.

Could a multi-storey car park be built?

Planning and transport constraints could make new parking difficult. Local planning policies and national guidance reportedly mean that approval for additional parking at the hospital site is considered unlikely.

The petition seeks a review rather than confirming that a multi-storey car park will be built. Any proposal would need to be assessed by the relevant health, city and county authorities, including its planning, transport, financial and environmental effects.

Neither the petition nor the available reports confirms a timetable for a decision on construction.

What happens next?

The petition is due to be presented at a county meeting next month and submitted to the hospital. Its presentation could give councillors and hospital authorities an opportunity to respond to the concerns raised by signatories.

The available coverage does not state whether Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has committed to a parking review or to developing a multi-storey car park. The petition’s outcome will therefore depend on any formal response from the trust and local authorities.

What is the background to the parking dispute?

Parking pressure at the John Radcliffe has been the subject of repeated campaigns. Appeals in 2019 and 2022 attracted thousands of signatures, while former Oxford councillor Mick Haines had previously campaigned for a multi-storey car park.

The current campaign follows the reported loss of staff spaces during construction of a new surgery hub and continuing warnings that parking capacity is limited. The hospital advises people who need to drive to allow plenty of time to park.

At the same time, planning policy and the hospital’s constrained site limit the scope for simply adding surface parking. Those circumstances have led campaigners to argue that a multi-storey structure could provide additional capacity without requiring an equivalent expansion of the site footprint.

What could the petition mean for patients and staff?

If the trust and councils agree to a formal review, patients, visitors and staff could receive clearer information about available spaces, future capacity and possible alternatives. A review could also establish whether a multi-storey car park is financially and practically achievable.

If no additional provision is approved, people who need to drive may continue to face delays and the need to allow extra time for appointments and shifts. That is a potential consequence, not a confirmed outcome.

The petition itself does not guarantee new parking. Its immediate effect is to place the issue before local decision-makers and hospital authorities, who will need to decide whether further action is justified.