STAFF and patients from two health centres in Bury have criticised a council decision to introduce on-street pay and display car parking charges.

Traffic and engineering councillors sanctioned the move on Monday night and fees will be introduced in selected town centre streets from January.

But the moves were condemned by nurses and patients at Ribblesdale House Medical Centre and Knowsley Medical Centre.

Bury Council received 12 objections , including two petitions signed by more than 400 people, mostly from Knowsley Medical Centre.

About a dozen angry staff members and patients attended Bury Town Hall on Monday to lobby councillors. Medical centre staff claimed that the charges would penalise them for being essential car-users. Some of them drive in and out of Bury up to four times a day as part of their job and under the new rules they would have to pay each time.

A spokeswoman for the nurses explained that the Bury Health Care NHS Trust, GPs and their union had all failed to offer any support. She added: "We serve the people of Bury but are being penalised for something that we have no control over." Dr Keith Thaker at Knowsley Medical Centre called for an extension to restricted parking at the Manchester Road end of Knowsley Street only during times when pupils are being dropped off and picked up from nearby schools.

Borough engineer Mr Mike Cannon advised nurses to take up the matter with their employer.

He said: "We will be writing to the Trust advising them of the outcome of the meeting and sending a copy of the report so they are aware of its contents. It is for the Trust to deal with the consequences as far as their employees are concerned."

A regular patient at Knowsley Medical Centre told councillors that the plans would have serious health implications.

The man from Radcliffe, who did not want to be named, said: "I suffer from severe asthma and I am prevented from walking far by my condition so I will have to pay. But if for some reason I forget to bring the right change for parking I will have to walk over to the centre."

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