PEOPLE working at Salisbury District Hospital have expressed their fury at being forced to pay to park there.

It was announced last week that Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust had agreed to bring in charges for staff to park at the site, despite warnings from unions that the move would be deeply unpopular and could cause real financial hardship.

The parking charges will be on a sliding scale, with those earning £16,753 per year or less paying £12 a month, those with salaries up to £37,545, £18 a month and those on the highest pay, £20.

Hospital chief executive Matthew Kershaw has said the charges, which will raise a projected £250,000 a year, will contribute to maintenance costs and promote green living as well as helping the trust make savings.

But staff believe the move is solely a money-saving exercise – the trust needs to save £10million in the coming financial year - and have pointed out that shift work and lack of public transport at certain times mean many have no option but to go to work by car.

*For an in-depth report see the June 17 edition of the Salisbury Journal.