A Dudley councillor has backed calls to permanently scrap all hospital parking fees and slammed the ‘scandal’ of making ‘our NHS Heroes pay a fortune for risking their lives to save ours.’

Councillor John Martin, the Labour spokesperson for Public Realm on Dudley Council has welcomed the temporary lifting of parking fees for staff at Dudley hospitals but says ‘it must be made permanent’’.

He is also calling for parking fees for patients and their families to be scrapped.

Councillor Martin said, ‘’The continuation of parking charges at English hospitals is a Tory tax on staff and the sick who deserve better’’.

‘’Boris Johnson has a nerve to clap staff who work stressful shifts in intensive care units yet must pay up to £500 a year to park or be clamped at some hospitals. If Labour in power in Wales and the SNP in Scotland can largely abolish NHS car parking fees, why can’t the Tories in England?’’

‘’More NHS spending during the Covid-19 crisis shows money can be found when it is needed so no more excuses from Downing Street’’.

‘’Free parking at hospitals in England must be affordable if it is in Wales and Northern Ireland. And extend it to all patients and visitors, using vouchers and passes to stop commuters or shoppers abusing spaces’’.