Fury at hospital parking fees (From Warrington Guardian)

Fury at hospital parking fees

STAFF at Leighton Hospital will be charged for parking their cars on site in a scheme that will net Mid-Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust almost £500,000.

Workers at the hospital are furious that the trust will charge them for parking during their working day from April in a bid to reduce congestion and encourage more environmentally-friendly travel.

The controversial scheme will also swell the trust's coffers by around £490,000 a year.

One specialist department worker, who asked not to be named, told the Guardian: "The money is going to be taken directly out of our pay packets and it will bring them a lot of revenue.

"We were told that there was going to be a move towards charging, but that was as far as it went.

"That was some months ago but now we've just been told it will be taken out of our pay.

"This hasn't gone to a union or even been discussed - we feel we have been railroaded into the situation.

"We're all up in arms about it but we feel our hands are tied - it is very wrong."

From April, staff will be made to fork out up to £15 a month to park at the hospital during their working day.

The charges are expected to reduce congestion and encourage workers to use public transport and other 'green' forms of travel.

The charges will also contribute an expected £490,000 to the trust's financial recovery plan.

In a report to the trust board, director of estates and facilities Colin Cadwallader said: "Both councils are firmly of the belief that the introduction of charges for staff is essential and that an appropriate level for all other users is the only way that reductions in travel to site will be achieved.

"To address the congestion issues faced daily on site and to fully comply with all aspects of the Green Transport Strategy, a staff charging structure is essential.

"It is expected that the introduction of charges will reduce the number of journeys to the site."