UN-BAYLIEVEABLE
I’ve spent £20k transforming my drive into a car park for doctors and nurses – but I’m HALF the price of the hospital
A LANDLORD has told how he splurged a whopping £20,000 transforming his drive into a CAR PARK for doctors and nurses.
Akeel Ahmed reckons he's on the road to a fortune by undercutting parking charges at one of Birmingham's biggest hospitals.
4
4
The 33-year-old charges £5 for all-day parking - a monstrous saving on the absurd £10.20 demanded by Heartlands Hospital for a 24-hour stay.
He said: "Everyone who has approached me says it's brilliant.
"It's right opposite the hospital, on the dual carriageway, it's convenient and I'm making use of the land."
It comes as miracle NHS staff were dealt a withering blow last week after being told they will no longer be able to enjoy free car parking at work.
READ MORE MOTORS STORIES
The move was brought in across England over the pandemic as a token of gratitude to those flogging their guts out on the frontline of Covid.
And as the average NHS nurse gets paid £642 a-week - Akeel's car park can help ease those financial potholes in their pockets.
He says his driveway opposite the hospital in Bordesley Green fits 18 motors, but he's hoping to squeeze 20 in.
That means the un-baylievable entrepreneur could be raking in £700-per-week - that's an eye watering £36,400 each year.
Most read in Motors
The lightbulb moment came last October when a driver visiting the hospital asked if he could park on Akeel's drive, at the junction of Alston Road and Bordesley Green East, and handed him £5 "for his trouble".
After that the dad-of-three set about paving the drive which took three weeks to complete, reports.
He even installed motion-triggered CCTV to catch cheapskates who try and nab parking for free.
Akeel, who lets out the property, asks customers to drop their cash through the letterbox,
But he admitted business had so far been light but reckons it will take off.
He said: "The first few months were quiet but over the last six weeks it has picked up."
The landlord added how he gets about four or five cars a day while other days he gets none - he's currently taking about a tenner a day.
But he now his eyes on the school run market with £2 offers for drop-off and pick-up slots on weekdays - though no parents have taken this up yet.
Despite this, Akeel thinks the whopping investment ";is worth it" and the local council even see the car park "as a positive".
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
He even hopes those off on their holidays will use his car park - which can be found on the JustPark app - for long term stays when they jet off.
He added: "A lady left her car here for a month for £58 - it's good for the airport."
4
4
Topics