Angry protestors gathered outside James Cook Hospital to protest new parking measures. Bosses at the hospital in Middlesbrough are working with Parkingeye to install cameras at its car park on Marton Road, reports Teeside Live.

This will also be the case for The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton this summer. Staff, union members and the public appear unhappy with the decision and UNISON and Luke Myer MP launched a joint petition to make their voices heard, which was supposed by some 13,000 signatures. Hospital staff joined the protest on Tuesday along with members of the public.

Banners called for better parking measures at the hospital and drivers honked their horns in support of the cause as they passed by the protest.

A spokesperson for UNISON said members took part in the protest because they are unhappy that the trust is planning to introduce this system without any consultation. They said: “There is already a lack of parking across both sites, with staff and patients sometimes queueing for up to an hour trying to park – something which, under the new system, could result in a fine.”

UNISON is claiming the trust insists on introducing the system despite the petition.

The union is calling on the trust to work in partnership to resolve the dispute and prevent further action. 

Staff is also facing higher parking tariffs from April 1, introduced for both North Tees and Hartlepool and South Tees Trust staff. This means some full-time staff could pay a further £14 a month, or almost £170 a year, for parking.

Talking about the protest, a spokesperson for University Hospitals Tees said: “Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) parking at The James Cook University Hospital and Friarage Hospital will improve safety for drivers and pedestrians and remove the need for barriers which can cause significant delays at exit and entry points.

“The system will also provide accurate data to help us improve onsite traffic management. Maintaining the safety of drivers, pedestrians and essential emergency vehicles is a key priority of the group.

"We have been working closely with local authorities and have engaged with staff side representatives to develop a wider plan to improve parking on our hospital sites.

"We are aware of parking issues at The James Cook University Hospital. The new system will ensure staff parking on site are in the parking scheme so we will have a clear idea of how many additional spaces are required.

"We are looking at introducing other initiatives to help reduce congestion, including car sharing, electric bike salary sacrifice, use of public transport, cycle to work schemes, flexible start times and introduction of a park and ride service.

"ANPR is already in place at our other hospital sites across University Hospitals Tees and will standardise and simplify parking arrangements for the benefit of our patients and staff."