NHS key workers hit with fines for parking at an empty Preston Bus Station

The key workers at the NHS 111 service in Preston city centre had parked at the bus station prior to a gruelling shift in the midst of the county's coronavirus pandemic.

But on returning to their cars, more than 20 NHS workers were shocked to discover that they had been fined for using the car park.

Since lockdown began, the car park has been closed to the public but has remained open for 'essential key workers'.

NHS 111 advisor Dale Cooper, from Warrington, said he and his colleagues had been issued with letters confirming their status as key workers.

But even this official letter displayed on their dashboards did not prevent the health care workers from being penalised.

This morning (April 9), Mr Cooper tweeted: "LCC why would an enforcement officer be issuing over 20 parking tickets on a car park to 'key workers' working for NHS 111 service, and displaying a key worker letter on the dashboard? Shameful.

"I travel 60 miles round trip and I am now parked on the street as I am concerned that I will be ticketed again."

The Post has raised the issue with Lancashire County Council, who explained that the car park is open to "a particular group of essential key workers".

It said specific arrangements had been made with this 'group', but did not reveal which key workers qualify for the parking privileges.

The Council has since offered to cancel any penalties issued to key workers during the ongoing crisis.

Peter Bell, regulation and enforcement manager for Lancashire County Council, said: "Our website and publicity has made clear that the car park at the bus station is closed, however we have not put up a barrier as we have arranged for limited and carefully managed use of the car park by a particular group of essential key workers, who we have made specific arrangements with.

"We have now updated our website to make this absolutely clear. Nobody else is allowed to use this car park.

"We have put up temporary signs about the car park being closed and are working to get more prominent signs made.

"We're sorry that we have not been able to do this more quickly because of disruption to services due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"We have replied to the tweet to ask this person to contact us about the penalty they have received.

"We are currently cancelling any penalties issued to key workers in line with the government guidance."

On Monday (April 6), the Government introduced a new parking pass scheme for NHS staff and other health and social care workers.

The scheme aims to provide key health workers with free parking in towns and cities across the UK.

A Council spokesman added: "On April 6, the government launched a parking pass scheme.

"The pass will be distributed via employers to NHS staff, health and social care workers and NHS volunteers with guidance.

"Staff need to display the new government pass so that we know that they are NHS staff."

If you are a key worker and have received a penalty or have used Ring Go to pay for a ticket, you can email [email protected]