Visitors to a Lichfield hospital will face higher car parking charges.
Hospital bosses defended the decision to raise prices at the Samuel Johnson Community Hospital as part of a switch to pay and display charging, claiming the move was necessary to prevent “abuse” of the available spaces by shoppers.
Half an hour will now cost 80p while those using the car park for between 30 minutes and an hour will pay £2. Concessionary passes will be available for regular visitors to the hospital and designated disabled parking will continue to be free for those displaying a valid blue badge.
The new charges will be introduced from May 14, with hospital bosses insisting the prices will now be more aligned to those at Queen’s Hospital in Burton.
Tony Waite, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Director of Finance, said: “We have introduced new pay and display arrangements to improve the safety of the car park for patients and visitors and to prevent the abuse of the car park by people who use our spaces when either going to the nearby train station or into Lichfield city centre for shopping.
“We will be checking the car park seven days a week for those abusing the car park to the detriment of patients and visitors. Warning notices will be issued and which could result in fines of up to £60 to anyone who persists in abusing our parking areas.”
Mr Waite added: “Even though the introduction of pay and display charges does represent an increase in the cost to patients and visitors, we are confident our charges remain favourable when compared to other Trusts in the region.”
The move to pay and display has been made after the car park’s ticket on entry system was damaged when a car drove into the exit barrier.
