Tamworth’s MP Launches Petition against Hospital Parking Charges

Chris Pincher signs the petition against parking charges at Sir Robert Peel hospital

Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, this week launched a petition calling on patients, relatives and staff of the Sir Robert Peel hospital, together with local residents, to sign a petition against the proposed introduction parking charges at the hospital car park.

Late last month Burton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust announced proposals to charge all users of the car park.  Charges will start at 80p for up to half-an-hour, a £2 charge for up to an hour, with payments rising to a maximum of £6 for between 7 and 24 hours.

Mr Pincher said, “The decision by Burton NHS Foundation is very disappointing especially as only eight months ago the Board announced that it had no plans to charge patients and visitors to park.  Five years ago I ran a campaign with local councillors to stop any planned charges to use the car park.

“We must now redouble our efforts to persuade the Trust that this is still the wrong decision. That is why I have launched a petition to demonstrate to the Board the strong public feeling about these proposed charges.  I have written to the Trust asking them to reconsider.  And I encourage all local residents, patients, visitors and staff to do the same and take time to fill out the petition.”

The petition can be signed online at http://www.christopherpincher.com/campaigns/peel-hospital-petition or in person on the many petition sheets which have been circulated to local shops and doctors’ surgeries.  People can also write direct to Mr Pincher at the House of Commons or email christopher.pincher.mp@parliament.uk expressing their support for the petition.  Signatures will be collated and handed to the Board after Easter.