Salisbury Hospital car parking machine causes confusion

Karen Swinger said she had difficulty navigating the new pay machines in car park two at Salisbury District Hospital after attending an eye clinic on Thursday, February 9.

She told the Salisbury Journal of her frustration with the system, explaining how she was only able to input three characters of her car registration.

Karen, who lives in the city, downloaded the Apcoa Connect app to pay for her two-and-a-half-hour parking session but claims the automatic numberplate recognition hadn't picked up her car as she came in.

As a result, Karen was unable to pay the £4.50 fee which left her "completely stressed out", she said: "It's just completely out of order.

"I had to drive out panicking and thinking I'm going to get a fine because I couldn't pay for my parking."

Karen Swinger is one of many people who have had problems with the new system. (Image: Karen Swinger)

Karen said there were "two or three" other people left confused at the parking machine in the same situation.

"It's an absolute nightmare for people. They have to sort it and pre-warn people," she added.

After going inside the hospital to ask for help, Karen claims the receptionist said it "is not our problem".

Karen is not the only person to express problems with the new parking system, readers have been in touch with their stories.

The parking machine told Suzy Jennifer she had been in the car park since 1970 when she tried to pay.

She said: “The system told me I owed £56 and had been there since 1970.

“Considering I wasn’t born then it’s pretty good going to be able to have parked my car there.”

Salisbury District Hospital parking machine displaying £56 payment due. (Image: Salisbury Journal Facebook)

Trudi Frances Harding added it's "not good enough", saying: "Visited Wednesday. The app wouldn’t download, both pay machines had a queue of 10 plus people waiting, the machine didn’t recognise the reg of two plus people in front of me, it was freezing and lots of elderly waiting for a long time in the cold."

Like Karen, the cameras did not recognise Tracy Jackson's car registration. She said: "Queues into the road at the machines, couldn’t download the app as no signal, the machine didn’t recognise our reg, so finally managed to pay but seemed very unfair as others didn’t and you could still leave the car park!"

A Salisbury District Hospital spokesperson apologised "if anyone has been inconvenienced", adding: "The new parking process enables visitors and patients to pay in a number of different ways which includes cash, card and online. 

"The hourly rates have not changed and there is no charge for the first 30 minutes to allow people to drop off and collect.

"Blue Badge holders continue to receive free parking and Blue Badges can be validated online which is a once-only action, or for 6 months at the Main Reception, the Cashiers Office or Facilities HQ.

"Additional locations to validate blue badges including the Spinal Unit, the Hospice and the PALS office are being added to make accessibility easier. Discounts for those making frequent trips to the hospital apply as before."

The spokesperson added that a text to all patients with a booked appointment will be sent this week notifying them of the changes and appointment letters are being updated to include advice and guidance. 

Its website has also been updated with details of the new system.

They said: "Following feedback we have installed additional directional signage to the pay machines and have additional staff working in our car parks to support drivers."