Shropshire hospitals' staff's parking fees double from August

Surveys show 88% of staff drive to work alone, while 20% live within a 15-minute cycle or walk to either hospital.

Parking charges will at least double for 1,600 staff at two Shropshire hospital sites, with some paying £15 extra a month.

The increase affects workers at the Royal Shrewsbury and Telford's Princess Royal hospitals from 1 August.

For more than 600 highest-earning staff, such as consultants and surgeons, costs will rise from £10 to either £20 or £25 per month.

Permits for nearly 2,400 middle earners will rise from £7.50 to £10 or £15.

About 1,010 of the 2,400 will see the price of permits double.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust approved the new charges at a board meeting on Thursday.

Parking charges will remain the same for the lowest earning staff at the trust

Chiefs said at peak times at the Royal Shrewsbury there is a demand for 200 spaces and 90 at Princess Royal.

Surveys have shown 88% of staff drive to work alone, while 20% live within a 15-minute cycle or walk to either site.

Trust bosses hope fewer people will drive to work in future and are introducing other schemes such as reserving spaces for car sharers.

There is also a plan to invest in improved video conferencing for staff across both sites.

They say they are trying to anticipate extra pressure on places when a new women's and children's centre opens at the Princess Royal.

For more than 1,500 lowest earners, their parking costs will stay the same at £7.50 per month.