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Cardiff NHS hospital staff lose parking tickets case | Cardiff NHS hospital staff lose parking tickets case |
(35 minutes later) | |
Seventy-five members of staff at a Cardiff hospital have been left "broken" by a court ruling that means they owe thousands of pounds in parking tickets, a campaigner has said. | Seventy-five members of staff at a Cardiff hospital have been left "broken" by a court ruling that means they owe thousands of pounds in parking tickets, a campaigner has said. |
On Friday, a judge at Cardiff Civil Justice Centre ruled private company Indigo could collect the charges from University Hospital of Wales staff. | On Friday, a judge at Cardiff Civil Justice Centre ruled private company Indigo could collect the charges from University Hospital of Wales staff. |
The ruling means 75 people must pay £128 per outstanding ticket. | The ruling means 75 people must pay £128 per outstanding ticket. |
Sophie Round, a healthcare support worker, said she was "gutted". | Sophie Round, a healthcare support worker, said she was "gutted". |
"It's not really the outcome that we wanted and what we earn doesn't really cover the fines," she added. | |
Campaigner Sue Prior said: "It's horrendous. Some of them [staff] are broken. They're scared stiff, petrified, they feel sick. This affects everyone from cleaners to doctors." | Campaigner Sue Prior said: "It's horrendous. Some of them [staff] are broken. They're scared stiff, petrified, they feel sick. This affects everyone from cleaners to doctors." |
She said staff had permits which allowed them to park in designated areas for £1.05 a day, but a lack of spaces meant staff had been forced to park in unauthorised areas. | |
Staff nurse Felicity Richards added: "I have to allow 45 minutes to an hour extra to park my car every morning to find somewhere to park. | Staff nurse Felicity Richards added: "I have to allow 45 minutes to an hour extra to park my car every morning to find somewhere to park. |
"By the time I get into work there are usually no parking spaces and I have to park off site and quite often I have to park a 20 to 25 minute walk away." | |
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said more than 98% of staff complied with parking regulations and it was "disappointing" some had "chosen to refuse to co-operate". | Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said more than 98% of staff complied with parking regulations and it was "disappointing" some had "chosen to refuse to co-operate". |
In 2015, it urged staff to pay any parking fines, saying they had been correctly issued and it did not intend to dispute them. | In 2015, it urged staff to pay any parking fines, saying they had been correctly issued and it did not intend to dispute them. |
Indigo has had a contract to manage and maintain the hospital's car parks for several years and has 1,250 spaces there. | Indigo has had a contract to manage and maintain the hospital's car parks for several years and has 1,250 spaces there. |
Ms Prior said she had been campaigning on behalf of staff because two of her children were born blind at the hospital, but after medical intervention now have some sight. | Ms Prior said she had been campaigning on behalf of staff because two of her children were born blind at the hospital, but after medical intervention now have some sight. |
"I had to help. Without those people and the NHS my children would be blind," she said. | "I had to help. Without those people and the NHS my children would be blind," she said. |
Indigo Park Services UK has been asked to comment. | Indigo Park Services UK has been asked to comment. |