MALDON District Council will not say how much it intended to charge a doctor’s surgery for new parking spaces.

The council was given permission to demolish St Cedds House in Princes Road, and build the new car park last year.

The building had housed Homestart, Viking Community Transport and the Citizens Advice Bureau. The project should save the council £27,000 a year.

Earlier this month the Standard reported patient groups were calling for the Blackwater Medical Centre and Longfields Medical Centre, both in Princes Road, to be offered some of the spaces.

Patients often struggle to park due to the limited spaces outside the practices.

The Standard understands this would have been at a charge of around £5,000 a year.

At the time Richard Holmes, director for customers and community services, said Blackwater surgery had been asked if it wanted spaces, but it declined.

However when the Standard asked how much it was planning to charge the surgery for spaces the council would not confirm the amount.

A spokesman said: “The extension of the car park at the district council offices will enable us to increase the number of visitor spaces to 17 spaces which will be available free of charge for a maximum two hours’ stay Monday-Friday.

Normal charges will apply at all other times. We have also increased the number of disabled car parking spaces, in line with parking standards.

“We already have a number of businesses and individuals who choose to purchase annual season tickets for our car parks.

“Based on the season ticket charge for Butt Lane car park this is currently £580 inclusive o f VAT. ”