AIREDALE Hospital staff should be permanently exempt from having to pay to park at work.

The call was made this week by Keighley Trades Union Council (TUC), which said the move would be a fitting tribute to workers who are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.

And backing was voiced by senior community figures including Keighley's town mayor, Councillor Peter Corkindale, who said it was "a disgrace" that hospital employees should be expected to pay.

All parking charges at the Steeton site, including those for patients and any visitors, have been temporarily suspended due to the Covid-19 crisis.

But according to Keighley TUC, that suspension is due to come to an end in less than a fortnight and there is no sign of it being extended.

"If these charges are not warranted in a time of crisis then they are not justified at any time," said Ralph Quigley, for the TUC.

"Whilst recognising the importance of trade union representations about the issue of the cost of car parking to staff and submissions to have these charges waived, Airedale Hospital management have been intransigent in moving to abolish the charges over several years – which has angered many staff.

“Keighley Trades Union Council believes the permanent suspension of staff car parking charges is needed as soon as possible. This would be a simple and low-cost way to show appreciation for these key workers and resolve a long-standing concern.”

Last autumn, it was revealed that Airedale Hospital had raked-in over £1.4 million from car parking in the previous year – with £482,634 of that coming from staff.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust defended the fees at the time, saying all the revenue was reinvested in the hospital – and mostly on frontline services.

Councillor Corkindale said this week: “It is a disgrace that doctors, nurses and others working at the hospital should have to pay.

“It’s my belief that no staff should ever be charged for parking at their workplace.”

Councillor David Mullen, chairman of Steeton-with-Eastburn Parish Council, says parking charges should be permanently abolished for everyone at the hospital – staff, patients and visitors.

“It’s ridiculous that people should be expected to pay,” he said. “And the hospital’s argument for what it spends the proceeds on just doesn’t wash with me.”

Keighley MP Robbie Moore says the Government is taking steps to make hospital parking free for "those in greatest need" – including disabled people, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight and staff working night shifts.

He added: "Following publication of Department of Health and Social Care guidelines for managing parking, NHS trusts were encouraged to consider concessions for other groups – like volunteers and staff who car share – as well as establishing 'pay on exit' schemes to ensure that drivers only pay for the time that they have used.

"NHS trusts are required to publish their parking policy, implementation of NHS car parking principles and related financial information to ensure that patients are able to hold them to account."

A spokesman for Airedale NHS Foundation Trust told us: “We continue to focus on our response to the pandemic and will wait for Government guidance before making any change to the current arrangements."