Copdock man challenges Ipswich Hospital parking fine

Lawrence Wood, 85, who lives in Copdock, had been parking in a restricted zone at Ipswich Hospital for regular treatment without issue for three years.

Lawrence has fought with the hospital to win his case. (Image: Lawrence Wood)

He said he was given special dispensation by the hospital in the last 12 months to park there.

Mr Wood said: "The hospital immediately gave me a dispensation to give me a proper place to park, telling me all I needed to do was display my disabled badge.

"That worked without interference or disturbance until one day earlier in the year.

"On the clinical visit I found a fine on my windscreen, I got in touch with the company who gave the fine to tell them I had spoken to the hospital and they gave me a special dispensation.

"I told them to get in touch with the hospital, and gave them all the details they needed but they didn’t think it stood up."

He later discovered that a new parking contractor had not been informed of his arrangement.

The next day, he was given a new parking space by a warden and the charge was eventually dropped.

A young Lawrence from his 20's. (Image: Lawrence Wood)

However, Mr Wood said the process of challenging the fine felt "intimidating."

He said: "I feel these people like to work through intimidation, and it’s not fair that we have to stand up for ourselves.

"They come at you mob-handed as though there’s too many of us and only one of you, but they picked the wrong fight with me."

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) has encouraged anyone in a similar situation to follow its formal appeals process.

Ipswich Hospital part of the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (Image: Newsquest)

Carrie-Ann Cruickshank, assistant director of estates and facilities at ESNEFT, said: "We encourage drivers to follow that process.

"This will make sure their case can be considered appropriately and within the required timescales."