Car park 'tax' sparks anger
Car parking charges at West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, will rise by 3.5 per cent in August as operators VINCI Park introduce the increase as part of its seven-year contract.
VINCI Park, which took over management of the hospital's car parks in April 2006, will introduce a 10p rise across the board, while weekly pass prices will increase by 30p from 9.80 to 10.10.
This will be the third rise in charges at the site in Hardwick Lane, since the national firm bought the seven-year contract to run parking services for 500,000 a year.
Chris Bown, chief executive at the trust, said: "No-one likes car parking increases.
"But the fact is the income that comes from this helps support patient services."
Prices for a two-hour stay at the unit will rise from 2.70 to 2.80, while stays of two to four hours will jump from 3.90 to 4 as part of the scheme, which was discussed with the hospital's car park working group.
Although usually introduced at the trust in July, the increases will not take effect until August to ensure users can be informed of the changes.
Simon Chapman, a non- executive director at the hospital, told the meeting: "It seems expensive in comparison in terms of charging nearly 13 for more than six hours.
"That is a lot of money in any climate and, in the current climate, it's a huge amount."
As part of the deal, CCTV cameras will be added to the front of the hospital to improve security while 20 free, short-stay drop off points will still be made available around the site for visits of up to 20 minutes.
But Gill Malik, union representative for Unison at the trust, said the rise would be a blow to staff whose wages had not increased in the current economic climate.
A staff parking permit for people who work at the hospital for more than 30 hours a week will rise from 13.30 to 13.50 per month.
Mrs Malik said: "This is so bad. It is like a tax on everyone who uses the hospital.
"People's pay isn't going up and everyone who uses the hospital will be affected by this, a lot of people are out of work."
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to -1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
