A RISE in parking charges at Airedale Hospital is perhaps unsurprising.

But the scale of the increase has shocked many people and understandably sparked widespread condemnation.

Health trust bosses are leaving themselves open to accusations that this is nothing more than a profit-making venture.

And patients and visitors are the ones who will pay.

The free first 20 minutes will benefit few.

Most people using the car parks fall into the two-to-four-hours category, which is seeing a massive 66 per cent surge in fees.

There can be no justification for such an increase.

Yes it's the first rise in ten years and people may have, albeit begrudgingly, accepted being asked to pay a little more.

However, a two-thirds increase – and even more if you want to stay for over four hours – is totally disproportionate.

Residents in streets close to the site already encounter issues with vehicles being parked there by hospital users.

That problem is only going to get worse.

One possible way forward is an overhaul of public transport links to the hospital.

Some buses do already serve the hospital.

But in order for people from the far reaches of Airedale's catchment area to benefit, massive change will be required.