Harrogate District Hospital will reintroduce parking charges for staff, patients and visitors from next week.
Parking has been free at the hospital since the first few weeks of the coronavirus lockdown but charges will apply again next Wednesday.
The government has covered the loss of income for trusts.
The hospital said it has been receiving complaints from patients and visitors struggling to find spaces.
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Staff will not be able to park at the top level of the main car park from next week, reverting back to the arrangements before the pandemic.
A spokesperson for Harrogate District Hospital said:
“We know that this will be unwelcome but we trust you understand the reasons why we are reintroducing parking charges. Parking at hospitals will always be a challenge and there is never going to be one solution that everyone is happy with.”
All on-site staff car parks will be available with a permit at the usual monthly rate.
The GMB Union, which has long campaigned for free parking at hospitals, previously said it would be a disgrace to charge hospital staff to park.
Rachel Harrison, GMB national officer, said:
Independent Harrogate ‘very disappointed’ as parking charges restart“Our investigation found trusts were charging hard-up NHS staff up to £1,300 a year to park where they work. We persuaded the government to scrap parking charges for all health and social care staff. Now ministers are showing their true colours.”
A group representing independent businesses in Harrogate has voiced its disappointment over the restarting of parking charges.
William Woods, on behalf of Independent Harrogate, said he had previously told the council to help retailers by delaying the reintroduction of charges.
He said that free parking would make a “huge difference” to businesses in Harrogate. Many of which are reopening for the first time on June 15, the same time charges come back into force.
“We wanted a grace period to help businesses to get back on their feet. We need to do all we can to get visitors back into the town centre. I thought that free parking would send a strong message.”
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Since the start of the lockdown enforcement officers have only targeted dangerous and obtrusive parking but that will change on June 15.
The measures will come into force for both on-street and off-street parking. North Yorkshire County Council is urging people to exercise social distancing when parking and paying to park.
Harrogate BID response to parking charges
Harrogate BID has been more welcoming to the reintroduction of parking charges but said that the change needed to be communicated well.
Sara Ferguson, acting chair, said: “I can see why the County Council is doing this, as it will ensure there is turnover in spaces when shops reopen, but it needs to be communicated loud and clear, so no one is caught unaware. We need to ensure that at the same time traffic wardens are back patrolling the streets, the town’s car parks are re-opened and properly signposted.”