Patients and visitors to Royal Bolton Hospital will pay more for parking from next week.

From Monday, March 4, patients and visitors attending the hospital will notice a slight increase to the amount they will need to pay for parking.

Hospital bosses say charges have remained the same for a number of years but Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said due to the cost of maintenance increasing it has not choice but to raise them.

Concessions will continue to have access to free parking.

Finance director at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Annette Walker, said: “Our parking charges have remained the same for a number of years but unfortunately, with the cost of maintenance across our site increasing, we have no choice but to increase the amount we are asking our visitors to pay.

“We have tried to keep the increase as low as possible and will continue to offer free parking for blue badge holders, cancer patients, relatives of end of life patients, parents and carers of children admitted overnight, and relatives of critically ill patients admitted long term.

“We have also managed to retain the cost for our monthly pass for people who attend our hospital on a regular basis."

Current charges which will change from next week:

Blue badge holders             Free*

Up to 30 minutes                 Free

Up to 4 hours                        £3

Up to 8 hours                        £5

Up to 24 hours                     £8

Monthly pass (4 weeks)      £25

*Blue badge holders should register direct with ParkingEye on 0333 123 1454.

Charges from Monday, March 4:

Blue badge holders - Free*

Up to 30 minutes – Free

Up to 2 hours - £3.50

Up to 4 hours - £4.00

Up to 8 hours - £6.00

Up to 24 hours - £10.00

Monthly pass – £25.00

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If patients or visitors have any concerns, or believe a patient or visitor is entitled to free or concessionary parking, ask them to visit the hospital’s main reception, or call 01204 390782 before leaving the car park.

An automated number plate recognition system is used at the Royal Bolton. The parking is managed by Parking Eye.

People who use the visitor car parks should pay the correct charge at one of the kiosks before they leave the site or will face a penalty.

All changes and updated information can be found on the Royal Bolton Hospital location page, and they will continue to regularly review charges to ensure that they are appropriate.

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