Councillor "appalled" as hospital refuses to cut parking fees (From Stourbridge News)

Councillor "appalled" as hospital refuses to cut parking fees

10:00am Wednesday 8th July 2009

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A DUDLEY councillor said he is “utterly appalled” after hospital bosses refused to review its car parking charges.

Dudley Council called on Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to examine their charges after backing a motion made by Dudley Wood councillor Bryan Cotterill.

The plea came as councillors argued the car parking charges were placing additional financial burdens on visitors and patients - who were instead parking in residential roads around the hospital sites.

However - chief executive Paul Farenden confirmed there were “no proposals to amend the current charges”.

A saddened Cllr Cotterill said: “I’m utterly appalled at the decision. This was a full council request, from democratically elected members of the council - who represent the feelings of the general public. We have been completely ignored. They haven’t listened to us at all.”

Dudley Council wanted a flat rate fee of 50p to park on the hospital car parks, replacing the current fees of £1.10 for up to one hour, £2.20 up to two hours and £3.50 for over two hours and up to 24 hours.

Rejecting the appeal, Mr Farenden said: “Car parking charges are continually reviewed at all of the Trust’s three sites to ensure they are kept as low as possible in the interests of patients and visitors.

“The charges are amongst the most favourable in the region compared to other trusts and charges have not increased since 2007.

“The charges are agreed by The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Interserve and Summit Healthcare, and there are no proposals to amend the current charges.”

But Mr Cotterill added: “They say the charges are continually reviewed, but who reviews them? Do they know how to manage on an old age pension?

“The fight will continue. The charges are immoral and we will keep objecting to them.”

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