AT LEAST 30 parking fines have been scrapped at two GP clinics in Stroud after a ticket machine had been “malfunctioning”.

And all other fines issued while the machine was broken will be revoked, NHS Property Services (NHS PropCo) have said.

The company, which owns the car park behind Beeches Green Health Centre, employed ParkingEye to introduce new parking restrictions to tackle motorists misusing the site.

But since the rules were introduced in April numerous patients of Redwood Dental Centre and the mobile breast screening unit have told the SNJ that the ticket machine in the pay and display car park has been broken.

They argued that if the machine is broken they should not be issued fines.

Up until now NHS PropCo and the Preston-based company ParkingEye, which manages the site, have said that patients parking in the pay and display area could still pay over the phone or by downloading an app.

This U-turn indicates a change of heart.

It comes after Stroud’s MP Neil Carmichael met with NHS PropCo on behalf of constituents.

As a result of the meeting the company has agreed that all constituents who believe they have been unfairly ticketed will have their case reviewed.

“It’s quite clear that these parking changes are not currently fit for purpose and I am pleased that NHS Property Services now recognise this,” said Mr Carmichael.

“I have secured a commitment from them to review all cases where individuals believe they have been wrongly ticketed, and would urge people to appeal their ticket and let my office know of their case.

“I welcome NHS Property Services commitment to review these parking arrangements to ensure that patient access is not negatively impacted in the future.”

Confirming that the landowners were reviewing penalties a spokesman for NHS PropCo said: “It seems that the ticket machine was malfunctioning over a period of time.

“The majority of tickets have been revoked - while the machines were not working fines will be waived.”

Community action group Stroud Against The Cuts had also written a letter of complaint to NHS PropCo and ParkingEye registering its “disapproval” at the way the new rules have been administered.