A PATIENT has branded the parking system at Colchester hospital “disgraceful” after she landed a £70 fine despite paying for parking.

Pensioner Sue Penny, of Coppice Road, Alresford, was visiting the Turner Road site for a follow up appointment after a double hip replacement.

She arrived 15 minutes before her appointment but was shocked to find around 40 cars driving around the car park looking for a space.

“It was chaos - more and more cars were entering in the car park behind me,” she said.

“We were all driving round and round. It was only luck if you were in a lane that someone was leaving. The cars that were trying to leave were stuck in the car park traffic jam so they were having trouble leaving.

“My problem is why on earth does the car park keep allowing cars to continually go through the entrance.

“Surely they should not let cars to enter if there are no spaces.”

After 45 minutes Sue, 74, found a space and was still able to be seen for her appointment. Following her check-up Sue left and sought out a pay machine using her bank card to pay the £3 fee.

She proceeded to the exit where the gate opened and let her leave.

But six days later, a £70 fine dropped through her letterbox.

The letter said she had not paid for parking and showed pictures of her car at various locations in the car park, while she searched for a space.

She said: “My experience of that morning trying to get a space was a absolute disgrace something needs to be done.

“Luckily I did pay by card and have my bank statement to send the parking partnership.

“It has been very upsetting I have never tried to get away with anything in my life.”

Fiona Sparrow, head of facilities at Colchester Hospital, said: “If Mrs Penny would like to get in touch with us directly we will happily consider her appeal. We do have an appeal process in place for anyone who thinks they’ve been unfairly fined.

“We appreciate finding a parking space can be frustrating. However, we have a very high turnover of vehicles so our car parks may be full one minute, and have several spaces the next which is why we allow cars to drive in, rather than queuing outside the car parks.

“We are installing new digital signs in the new year which will show how many car parking spaces are available when patients and visitors arrive.”