PARKING CHARGES at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee have caused controversy again this week, after it was revealed that the cost of staff parking permits are to increase next month.

A recent annual review was completed recently, with NHS Tayside confirming that there would be no rise for individual parking charges for the next year.

However, those paying a monthly parking permit have been informed they will be charged a further £1.10 per month, increasing their bill from £24.10 to £25.20 for a full-time employee.

The review comes into effect from Thursday.

Despite the price increase, site manager Brian Main has maintained that staff are still being given the better financial deal by investing in a monthly parking pass.

He said, “Anybody who has a monthly parking permit is still clearly getting a lower cost of parking than having to pay £1.60 per day.”

The car park is run on behalf of NHS Tayside by Vinci Park and the company keeps any profits they make.

It has been estimated visitors to Ninewells and hospital staff pay more than £2.3 million a year for parking, although Vinci Park have consistently refused to divulge how much they earn from the car park.

Standard parking at Ninewells costs patients and visitors £1.60 if they leave within four hours, but in some cases charges can rise to as high as £10 for an extended stay.

There are still more than 20 years before Vinci Park's lease on the car park at Ninewells runs out.