A DISABLED driver has described a hospital’s parking system as “incompetent” after he received a penalty parking notice despite having a blue badge.

Chris Beard, of Brook Street, Manningtree, said he registered his own and his neighbour’s cars when the new automatic number plate recognition system was introduced at Colchester Hospital’s car park but has still received two fines.

He said: “The system is totally incompetent.

“It seems it forgets who is registered and who isn’t.

“They need to look into why the system is doing this and question if it’s fit for purpose.

“People are getting fined when they shouldn’t and it’s a real pain to get it overturned.

“I’m wondering how many people have had the same problem and how many people who shouldn’t be getting fined have paid it.”

The 48-year-old dad-of-two described himself as “quite tolerant” but said the parking situation is unacceptable.

Mr Beard was allocated a blue parking badge after he became disabled from a serious back injury.

He said: “I also have an eye condition so I go back to the hospital regularly every eight to ten weeks.

“After the treatment I can’t drive, so somebody has to go with me. If it’s not my wife, it is my neighbour.

“So far, we’ve received two notices, one with my neighbour’s car and once for mine.

“My wife got a notice in August even if the car was registered.

“We’ve got that sorted but we had to register our car again, which was a real pain.

“On November 5, I drove my wife to an appointment at the hospital and two weeks later another penalty notice came through my door saying I was parked at the staff car park which is simply not true.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Mr Beard received a £70 fine.

A spokesman for the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust said: “We are really sorry to learn about Mr Beard’s situation and we do everything in our power to investigate it.”