Car parking company Parkingeye was given a five-year contract to operate Harrogate hospital’s car park, says the hospital trust.

The company was contracted to run the hospital’s new automated number plate recognition system car park in September 2023.

At the time, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said the ticketless system would help to reduce congestion on Lancaster Park Road.

However, since then, the hospital has been criticised for hiring management firm Parkingeye to operate the car park. 

The Stray Ferret has also received numerous letters and complaints that the company has issued unfair parking fines.

A Freedom of Information response from the hospital trust has revealed that the company was given no money as part of the contract as it receives all its income from parking fines.

Fees charged at the car park are kept by the trust itself.

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The request, which was sent by the Stray Ferret, also said that the contract with Parkingeye runs until October 2028.

The move comes as patients have questioned the hospital’s choice of provider.

Derek Sendrove told the Stray Ferret that he had been landed with a £70 parking fine after problems trying to pay for 45 minutes worth of parking in October 2023.

He and his wife, Zhanna, appealed the fine but was refused. The pair have since taken the decision to Parking On Private Land Appeals, the industry arbitrator.

Mr Sendrove questioned why the hospital chose Parkingeye to manage its car park.

However, a hospital spokesperson previously defended its decision to bring in the company.

They said: