PATIENTS, helpers and visitors will have to pay to park at a town hospital again after a free parking scheme was ended by health bosses.

Motorists visiting Ross-on-Wye Community Hospital were charged again from last Saturday (August 1) as normal parking arrangements returned.

The move follows the reintroduction of parking charges in the town’s council-owned car parks the week before.

The Wye Valley NHS Trust made hospital parking free at the start of the pandemic in March, but has now reintroduced the payments.

The first 20 minutes are free at the Alton Street hospital, but will then cost £1.50 up to an hour, £2 up to two hours, £3 up to three hours, £4 up to four hours and £5 over four hours.

Patients travelling to Hereford County Hospital also have to pay to park there again, where the first 10 minutes is free, but then costs £3.50 for up to an hour, £5 for up to two hours, £6 for up to three hours, £7 for up to four hours, £8 for up to five hours, £12 for up to nine hours and £15 for up to 24 hours.

A trust spokesperson said last week: “Services are currently being restored in a safe and managed way and the temporary car park arrangements will cease at the end of the month.

“Visitors and patients can pay for their car parking using contactless payments.

“The trust also has a range of concessions for those using its car parks – details can be found on the Trust’s website – www.wyevalley.nhs.uk

“The end of the temporary parking arrangements covers car parks at Hereford County Hospital and also at the community hospitals in Ross-on-Wye, Bromyard and Leominster.”

Parking charges resumed in Herefordshire Council-owned car parks on Saturday, July 25, after a month’s free parking.

Council bosses have promised a review into their parking fees and concessions, with a view to encouraging people to visit town centres while “making the best use of the available spaces and reducing congestion”.

Local stakeholders will be asked for their input as part of the review, which is expected to be completed later this year.

Councillor John Harrington, Cabinet member for infrastructure and transport, said: “It will always be necessary to have some parking charges – to control the availability of spaces and congestion in the very high demand areas and to encourage people to walk or cycle into town where they can.

“The council has not made major changes to its parking charges since February 2016.

“Exactly what the revised charging structure looks like will depend what stakeholders tell us and may include concessions such as no evening charging, cheaper rates for car parks that are a little further away, and so on.

“It would be good to find the balance that allows for a quick drop-in or pick-up but generally encourages people to park a little further out and walk in, to spend much more time in our shops and hospitality outlets.

“It is critical we get the views of retailers and our hospitality sector to achieve a balance that works for everyone.”