Letter: Make hospital parking fairer

After visiting Calderdale Royal a few times over the past few months, both as a patient and a Calderdale Community driver, I have some comments, observations, complaints and suggestions regarding - would you believe - parking.
Should the charges at Calderdale Royal be fairer for visitors?Should the charges at Calderdale Royal be fairer for visitors?
Should the charges at Calderdale Royal be fairer for visitors?

On my first visit, I went to the parking ticket machine to find the minimum charge to be £2.80. As I only had £2, £1 and 50p coins, I had to pay £3 as no change is given. That’s a seven per cent overcharge.

On my second visit, I paid the minimum charge of £2.80 (I brought change this time). I had a blood test and was back to my car in half an hour. As I had paid for the minimum time of two hours, it cost me nearly £3 for half an hour parking.

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On my third visit, I was taking a patient to see a doctor for a medical examination. I paid the £2.80 for two hours parking and took the patient into the hospital. After nearly twp hours, the patient was still being examined so I went out to buy another ticket.

The patient then came out 10 minutes later. I calculate that I paid nearly £6 to park for just over two hours.

Could I suggest amending the charges as follows:-

Up to 30 minutes - 50p.

Up to 1 hour - £1.

Up to 2 hours - £2.

Up to 3 hours - £3.

Up to 6 hours - £5.

Up to 24 hours - £7.

This will make it fair to both short and long stay visitors.

Dave Brown, by email