James Cook University Hospital parking charge increase leads to angry public reaction

Move to increase parking charges 17% for patients and visitors at James Cook Hospital has angered users

Plans for a hospital trust to increase parking charges have led to an angry public reaction.

Agreed changes will see prices rise by up to 17% for patients and visitors to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital from May 1.

But the move has angered users.

Assistant manager Veronica O’Loughlin, 48, visits the hospital regularly with her son Carl.

She said: “We normally go for at least a few hours, sometimes longer.

“If you added it up it would be £35 a week.

“The thing is you’ve got no choice. We have to come and if the parking’s bad you can’t get in.”

Warehouse worker Craig Brown, 34, said: “It’s disgusting, it’s expensive enough as it is now.

“They do need more spaces, I’ve sat there before for two hours waiting for a parking space.”

After the new charges come into effect, a 15-minute stay will be free, two hours and under will cost £2.70, up from £2.30, three hours and under will cost £3.50, up from £3, and four hours and under will cost £5.50, up from £4.80.

Four to 24 hours will cost £5.70 - up from £5.

Shop volunteer Yvonne Greensitt, 44, said: “It’s terrible, the amount of people who complain about it is amazing.

“There isn’t enough spaces, people drive round for 10 minutes looking for somewhere to park.”

Full-time mum, Emma McLeod, 23, agreed.

She said: “It’s like a tax on being ill, you would think the hospital would have more compassion.”

Gazette readers also took to Facebook to show their anger.

Leeann Clemmitt wrote: “You shouldn’t even have to pay to park at a hospital. Being at hospital is bad enough without worrying about the parking meter.”

While Lisa Louise Cambridge wrote: “It is disgusting. Patients go in hospital ill and pay parking and TV.”

However some didn’t see it as a problem.

Chris Scott wrote: “There’s a hospital there to treat you, not provide parking. If you want to go in your car you pay, it’s as simple as that.

“Get a taxi there if you don’t like it.”

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust director of service strategy and infrastructure Jill Moulton said: “The trust has not increased its charges since 2011. However to pay for these developments the board does accept that parking charges will have to go up and while that’s never a popular choice, it is necessary.”