DOCTORS in Lewisham are furious at an 800 per cent price hike in parking permits which give them reduced benefits.

Changes to Lewisham Council's parking policy mean doctors will now have to pay an annual fee of £200 to see their patients when they previously paid £25.

Despite the price hike, their permits will no longer allow them to park in residential spaces.

If they want to park in Lewisham's residential parking zones they will have to be a resident and buy an additional annual resident's parking ticket costing £25.

The only areas their permits can now be used is in "paid for" parking areas.

There has been an outcry among medical practitioners since the November 5 change.

Secretary for the Lewisham division of the British Medical Association Dr William Lettington said: "This is appalling. The council is trying to price doctors out of parking. It is very difficult to understand its policy decision.

"Doctors cannot be making a huge impact on the parking problem, we are simply being used as scapegoats."

"Patients could well suffer because doctors are being hampered from getting near their patients."

Dr David Abraham of Morden Hill surgery, in Lewisham said: "We are extremely upset. This cost is adding yet another barrier to a profession which is already under-appreciated in the borough.

"This is yet another example of the erosion of the value of our service.

"We are already short of doctors and nurses in Lewisham and this will discourage others from coming to the area."

Lewisham Parking Services' group manager Lesley Brooks said: "Residents have been complaining about doctors using their bays, so they are no longer allowed to park in their bays.

"This is part of our new parking plan which involves a number of changes.

"We are trying to encourage doctors to apply for their own bays which they can have installed for £200."

There are currently 30 doctors in Lewisham who use the doctors' parking permits.

December 5, 2001 9:30

John Higginson