Russells Hall Hospital parking fines overturned after every single appeal successful
Every single parking fine appealed at Russells Hall Hospital over a year was successfully overturned, it can been revealed.
New figures showed not one penalty was upheld when challenged by irate drivers.
The staggering statistics mean every person who took the time to appeal their fine from Russells Hall during 2015/16 ended up not having to pay a penny.
Just over a quarter of drivers fined – 358 – appealed.
Those deemed to have broken the rules at the hospital are initially hit with £70 fines, but the bill is reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
A study from YourParkingSpace.co.uk found 26 per cent of fines from Russells Hall were appealed, meaning more than 1,000 people paid up when there was a possibility they could have had the penalty overturned.
Hospital bosses said the 'vast majority' of appeals were made by staff who had not put their permits on display.
If the 358 fines had been paid rather than appealed it would have brought in between £14,320 and £25,060.
Dudley councillor and senior UKIP member Bill Etheridge, who has been highly critical about parking fees at Russells Hall, said the figures showed anyone who feels they have been unfairly fined should appeal straight away.
He said: "If people feel they have been unjustly fined they should appeal, no question about it.
"Parking fees are an absolute disgrace anyway and taxpayers who already pay a huge amount to the NHS are being hit again. It's a cruel extra tax on the sick, people who work there and visitors who are worried enough as it is."
Drivers at Russells Hall are warned they will be fined if they park in drop-off areas for longer than the stated time, on red lines, on pavements or pedestrian walkways, on grass verges or block access for emergency vehicles.
Dr Paul Harrison, acting chief executive of the Dudley Group, said: "The vast majority of these appeals were from members of staff using the staff car parks for failing to display a valid parking permit.
"On checking our permit holder database to establish they had a valid permit, the fixed penalty notices were overturned by the trust."