Dear Editor,

As a former Mayor and County Councillor of Ross-on-Wye, I was simply appalled to read that the Wye Valley NHS Trust have proposed parking charges at the Ross-on-Wye Community Hospital. I along with others including Cllr Phil Cutter, Paul Deneen, Town Councillors, GP’s, Friends of Ross Community Hospital and the community fought a long and hard campaign in the 1990s to have the purpose built hospital built on land which was the former Workhouse (and later became Dean Hill Hospital). This land had been paid for by the people and ratepayers of Ross.

It is simply disgraceful for the Wye Valley Trust Board to try and charge patients and families to park on this land which was paid for by Ross people.

Patients are unwell, and the Wye Valley Trust should be ashamed of itself in trying to profit from people who are ill. I thought that the Government was trying to remove parking charges from hospitals, rather than seeking to introduce them in all hospitals.

I think we need to invite the decision makers of this scheme to come to Ross to explain in person why parking charges are being introduced, rather than introducing them just after a General Election! Had we known that the parking charges were on the cards for the local hospital, then this could and should have been discussed at the local Hustings held in Ross. I am sure that all politicians would have received a clear message about supporting patients and families first, rather that charging them for parking at the hospital and charging for parking whilst attending Alton Street Surgery. I remain appalled and shocked at this decision!

Joyce Thomas MBE,

Ross-on-Wye