A DORCHESTER woman has lamented drivers who are using the road where she lives as a 'car park' to avoid paying 'ridiculously high' parking charges at the county hospital.

Justine Rogers, from Poundbury Crescent, says her parents have been unable to visit her and delivery drivers have even refused to drop items off at her home. 

She lives near to Dorset County Hospital (DCH), where parking charges for non-hospital staff start at £1.70 an hour - reaching £7 for anything over four hours.

The Dorchester mother, who suffers from muscle pains, lives with her daughter Georgia, 22, who has autism and anxiety.

"What none of these people consider are the needs of the residents," Ms Rogers said.

"I have parents in their 80s and my dad has terminal cancer so has reduced mobility, and they have had to stop visiting as they can't park in the same street. 

"I have fibromyalgia which causes many issues when I arrive home after work and sometimes have to park half a mile away.

"We have had people refuse to deliver to our house as there is nowhere a delivery vehicle can be parked.

"[My daughter] is very reluctant to leave the house as she cannot be left to walk from the car to the house alone and is unable to walk the half mile from the first vacant parking spot to the house.

"If someone is visiting a patient or attending an outpatient appointment they don't want to pay £1.70, so they park in the neighbouring streets.

"Resident permits would be an option, but why should we have to pay to park by our own homes?"

DCH has recently built a new multi-storey car park which is free for NHS staff - but this has only just become available for the public because of 'parking pressures on site' due to developments such as the new discharge lounge.

Ms Rogers added: "It is horrendous. We are giving them a private car park for their flash cars because they do not want to pay what the hospital charges.

"We have had to plan trips out around working times for the staff so we tend to go shopping later in the day. 

"We are paying the price and it is having a very negative effect on our lives and I am getting fed up."

Ms Rogers has contacted the council about her issues and has been advised to apply for a disabled parking badge and dedicated bay outside her home, which she has begun the process of doing.

A spokesperson for Dorset County Hospital said: "We are sorry to hear local residents have experienced some issues with parking. We have shared these concerns with our staff.

“The multi-storey car park is available for staff and the public to use, and we have reallocated some spaces elsewhere on site for use by blue badge holders to ensure they are able to park closer to main entrances.”