Court upholds parking charges on hospital staff

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board  has defended its staff car parking policy after employees were left with large bills when they lost a court case on the charges.

The staff had argued that demand made it impossible for them to park in concessionary spaces and they should not therefore be liable to charges levied by parking contractor Indigo elsewhere on health sites. The board said some 98% of its staff complied with the parking regulations.

“It is disappointing that a few people have chosen to refuse to co-operate with the contractors Indigo Parking Services UK and have chosen to pursue this through the courts,” it said in a statement.

The board said staff and visitors were encouraged to comply with the parking regulations in to keep the site, safe and allow access to emergency vehicles and said it offered staff a park and ride scheme.

“We are aware there are significant financial costs and the financial hardship the staff have placed themselves in,” the board said.

“We encourage all staff to engage with Indigo Car Parking Service UK at the earliest opportunity to avoid mounting legal and court costs.”

It said arrangements were in place for staff who needed quick access such as on-call  surgeons and midwives and “the vast majority of posts are covered by shift patterns and rotas that do not require the level of urgency claimed”.