Hospitals split on parking fees

Drivers will not be charged for parking from 31 December

Car parking charges are to be abolished at Perth Royal Infirmary from 31 December, NHS Tayside has confirmed.

However, charges will remain at Dundee's Ninewells PFI hospital, despite attempts to renegotiate with operator Vinci Park Ltd.

Scots ministers announced in September that all NHS hospital parking charges would be abolished in the new year.

In Perth, parking will be split into zones with spaces nearest the hospital reserved for patients and visitors.

Drivers will only be able to park for a maximum of three hours.

Those people using the site will also need to display a "free of charge" ticket which will display how long they have been in a space.

'No interest'

Patients who are detained beyond the three-hour time limit because of appointments will be given instructions on how to cancel any penalty.

The site will also feature a zone designated for staff parking.

Brian Main, head of support services, said, "We believe these changes at PRI represent a pragmatic approach to the difficult issue of balancing the needs of staff, patients and visitors who require ready access to hospital facilities.

"We will, of course, be keeping a close eye on the new arrangements and if we feel we need to adapt our plans to manage these changes then we will move quickly to do so."

The health authority said the Scottish Government had asked it to explore with Vinci Park Ltd the possibility of an early termination of their contract governing parking fees at Ninewells.

They added that Vinci Park Ltd has advised them that they had "no interest" in negotiating a contract buy out.