Ross Town Council has won several concessions from the Wye Valley Trust regarding the implementation of parking charges at Ross-on-Wye Community Hospital.

Members of the Town Council welcomed Glen Burley, the Chief Executive of the Wye Valley Trust, to an informal meeting at the Corn Exchange to discuss the current concerns over parking charges at the Community Hospital.

A petition set up by Ross Town Council called on local people to add their signatures to their request to the Wye Valley NHS Trust to review its decision to introduce parking charges at Ross Community Hospital, which was made without prior consultation.

Mr Burley explained to the Town Councillors why car parking charges were being introduced in line with the County Hospital. He said that firstly, the car park was being used by non-hospital users and secondly the Trust could not justify subsidising car drivers by paying both the rates and maintenance for a car park at the expense of hospital services.

Members were able to question Mr Burley with their concerns.

As a result, Mr Burley conceded that there would be a free 15 minute period for picking up prescriptions and consideration would be given to free parking on a Saturday to enable hospital fund raising events to take place.

He assured members that inappropriate fining for anyone exceeding their parking time should not be allowed and a sensible appeals process would be put in place.

Concerns about staff having to pay for parking were also addressed. He said that the same concessionary rates at the County Hospital would be applied in a similar manner at the Community Hospital.

Consideration would also be given to patients who need regular and frequent appointments in the same way as cancer patients, who are already entitled to free parking. See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here.