A STAGGERING 4,229 parking penalty notices have been issued to visitors and patients at Halton and Warrington Hospitals in just three months.

Even a fire engine received one.

The figures were obtained in a Freedom of Information request by Halton Cllr Dave Thompson and cover the first three months since the new automatic number plate recognition system (ANPR) was installed.

Halton Lea Cllr Thompson said: “This is shocking. It works out at an average of 45 a day.

“Their private contractor could have received £300,000 from the fixed penalty notices in that time.

"If it continues, they are on course for £1 million this year. I find that breathtaking in magnitude.

"I believe the situation has significantly worsened as these figures are only up to the end of May."

His comments follow a deluge of complaints by visitors and patients who have received £75 penalty notices even though many claim they do not owe a penny.

There were 4,061 fixed penalty notices issued at Warrington Hospital and 168 at Halton.

The ANPR machines were installed at Warrington on March 3 and at Halton on April 1. 

Highview Parking, the company that operates both car parks has warned drivers that if they don’t pay up the charges will escalate.

Almost 1,000 of the notices have been withdrawn following appeals.

One expectant Halton View woman who required treatment for a suspected blood clot received penalty tickets from both hospitals in one day even though she had paid.

A Halton Council officer attending a meeting at the Brooker Centre, unable to pay because a machine was broken, received a ticket.

One woman who hadn’t even parked at Halton Hospital but was visiting the neighbouring Hallwood Health Centre has been sent a penalty.

Cllr Thompson said: “Every day Halton residents are being hit with countless £75 notices causing upset, distress and needless expense if they feel intimidated to pay.”

His FOI request to Whiston Hospital, which operates a barrier system where drivers must pay before they leave, showed that they had not received one single complaint about car park charging issues in the last year.

A spokesman for Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “If anyone thinks that they have received a parking charge notice in error they can appeal directly to Highview Parking.

“The appeals process is fair and takes into account extenuating personal circumstances and any genuine human error.

“We have found that the main reasons for people receiving parking charge notices has been not entering their full registration or not paying for the time that they have used.

“The ANPR system starts as soon as you enter the hospital grounds.

“The pictures of vehicles issued parking charge notices are of the car entering and leaving the hospital site and not whilst parked.”

He said Warrington cancer patients can park free if they present their appointment letter to the general office.

Concessions are also available for patients and visitors who need to attend over an extended period.