A DUDLEY councillor said he is “utterly appalled” after hospital bosses refused to review their car parking charges.

Dudley Council called on Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to examine its charges after backing a motion put forward by Dudley Wood councillor Bryan Cotterill.

The plea came as councillors argued the parking charges were placing additional financial burden on visitors and patients, who were instead parking in residential roads around the hospital sites.

But chief executive Paul Farenden confirmed there were “no proposals to amend the current charges”.

A saddened Mr Cotterill said: “I’m utterly appalled at the decision. This was a full council request, from democratically elected members of the council,who represent the feelings of the general public. We have been completely ignored. They haven’t listened to us at all.”

Dudley Council wanted a flat rate fee of 50p to park at hospital, replacing the current fees of £1.10 for up to one hour, £2.20 up to two hours and £3.50 for over two hours and up to 24 hours.

Rejecting the appeal, Mr Farenden said: “Car parking charges are continually reviewed at all of the Trust’s three sites to ensure they are kept as low as possible in the interests of patientsand visitors.

“The charges are among the most favourable in the region compared to other trusts and charges have not increased since 2007.

“The charges are agreed by The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Interserve and Summit Healthcare and there are no proposals to amend the current charges.”

But Mr Cotterill added: “They say the charges are continually reviewed, but who reviews them? Do they know how to manage on an old age pension?

“The fight will continue. The charges are immoral and we will keep objecting to them.”

Meanwhile, residents living near Russells Hall Hospital have also expressed concerns over parking, saying “no one seems to want to know”.

People living in Milton Street, Poets Corner and Elgar Crescent in Pensnett have to put up with cars continually blocking their roads as hospital visitors avoid paying the parking fees.

The continual streamof vehicles is causing access problems for residents, as well as reducing visibility and making the roads unsafe for drivers and pedestrians.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said cars park on the pavements outside their homes from 8.30am until the evening, forcing pedestrians out on to the road, unable to pass.

He said: “It is especially bad for pushchairs and wheelchairs – they just can’t get down the pavements because of all the cars, so they have to go into the road instead.

“Many residents have white lines outside their drives but the cars still park on them.

“I’ve been speaking to the police, the council and theMPfor the past 18 months but have had no joy – no one seems to want to know.”

Residents have even seen hospital visitors park in driveways while the homeowner is at work.

Pensnett and Brockmoor ward councillor Judy Foster said the situation could only be resolved if the hospital reconsidered its decision regarding the charges.

She said: “I am deeply disappointed at the hospital’s response.

The car parks are not full all of the time as people avoid the charges and are instead parking around the residents’ houses.

“I have called upon the council and the police to try to address this, even suggesting residents only parking permits, but the reality is the root cause of the problems is the hospital charges.

“Hospital bosses haven’t even considered they could increase their income by decreasing the charges and getting more people parking on the car park.”