PATIENTS attending Colchester’s Walk in Centre will have to start paying for parking from October, it has been revealed.

Landlord Community Health Partnerships has said all those parking at the Turner Road site will be subjected to the charges, which start at £3 after the first 60 minutes.

The decision has angered patients who are registered at the doctor surgery based there, with many accusing the body of cashing in on people who need to see their GP.

Resident Jo Reid said: “They need to make sure doctors run on time then.

“I had an appointment booked and waited 45 mins for doctor then when I got seen he wasn't interested on why I was there but all the places his lived and seen.

“He just wanted to talk about himself.”

Margaret Grant said: “Since a visit to the walk in centre rarely lasts less than an hour they may as well not had the hour free option.”

However, Penny Verrier Bronniman said: “I'd rather pay for the car park than have it come out of the NHS budget.

“It’s a small price to pay for our medical care. I just wish we could get discounts when loved ones are hospitalised, it makes visiting very expensive.”

The Gazette revealed in June discussions were underway to introduce parking charges at the site from August as services from the closing Essex County Hospital would be moving in to the Primary Care Centre.

Healthcare bosses said they would disclose the details well before the charges were introduced and yesterday clarified the charges would now be introduced on October 8.

Patients registered with the GP surgery said they had not been sent a letter about the changes and instead had found out over social media.

The new system, which has been instructed by CHP, which owns the site, will be run by Colchester Hospital University Foundation Trust.

It will see patients paying on departure so they pay for the amount of time they have been there.

It is a system similar to that run at the neighbouring Colchester General Hospital.

The full parking charges are;

0 - 60 mins - Free

1 - 2 hrs - £3

2 - 4 hrs - £4

4 - 8 hrs - £5

8 - 24 hrs - £10

The hospital trust said parking for the disabled and renal patients will be free.

Those who choose to flout the new rules will end up with a £70 fine, which would be reduced to £35 if paid promptly.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “We are working in partnership with the Community Health Partnership, which owns the site. 

“The charges are the same as those at Colchester General Hospital, except for the first free 60 minutes which is to account for people going to see their GP.”