William Harvey hospital share in £1.6 million car park profit

10.51.52am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 26th Mar 2007

East Kent Hospital Trust received an income of over £1.6million from car park fees

George Koowaree, Lib Dem County Cllr for Ashford, today renewed his request for a review of car parking charges at William Harvey Hospital when it was revealed that the hospital trust ranks the fifth highest earner of car park income in the country. East Kent Hospital Trust received an income of over £1.6million from car park fees.

It is almost a year since George handed over a petition with over 1000 signatures to Julia Apps, Car Park and Access Manager, for the East Kent Hospital Trust, requesting a review of charges including the suggestion that patients and visitors to the William Harvey Hospital should be able to pay for up to one hour's parking rather than the current minimum charge of £ 1.70 for three hours.

George said "I am disgusted that the hospital trust is raking in money in this way from patients and visitors who may have no choice but to use the car parks. Now we know they are amongst the top five earners from parking in the country, it is time for East Kent Trust to look again at the minimum three hour rule which penalises patients, visitors and staff. "

George has written to Howard Jones, Director of Facilities, asking him to review the charges and agree to a more flexible approach.

Note:

East Kent Trust car park fees income £1,679,217 for the year 2005-06 .

The trust is ranked 5th out of 176 hospital trusts which provided details of car park charges, out of a total of 249 hospital trusts in the country.