CHANGES are being made to parking at Colchester General Hospital and the Walk In Centre.

Automated Number Plate Recognition, upgraded payment machines and new exit barriers will replace the current barrier parking and ticket system.

The old barriers will be removed on October 8 with the new ANPR system starting on October 15.

ANPR records a vehicle’s licence plate on arrival. People then enter their licence plate and pay using card or cash before returning to their vehicle.

New digital signage will also display how many spaces are available in each car park.

Paul Fenton, Director of Estates and Facilities, said: “The existing parking system causes unnecessary stress to our patients and visitors. This isn’t good enough.

"We have had problems with the barrier system that causes traffic to build up outside the hospital and the cash-only payment system is simply out of date and unable to keep up with the demand it receives.

“We believe the new system will be clearer, more streamlined and simpler to use, making the experience of visiting our hospital easier and not adding to what may already be a stressful situation.

“With the new system we are also getting stronger at managing inappropriate parking on the site. We will now be able to issue fines to anyone who misuses the car parking facilities that our visitors require.”

Parking charges will also be introduced at the Primary Care Centre on Turner Road.

Five and seven-day parking permits, designed to help people visiting in-patients, are available at £15 (five days) and £18 (seven days).

Parking will be free for half an hour on the main hospital site, allowing people to drop off/pick up as well as enter and leave the car park if a space is not available without charge.

The charges will remain £2 for a one-hour visit. One to two hours is £3, two to four hours is £4 and four to eight hours is £5, while a stay of between eight and 24 hours will cost £10.

Blue badge holders can continue to park for free and will only need to register their vehicle at the Travel Centre, in main reception, on the first occasion.