Queen’s Hospital is considering hiking the cost of its staff parking permits by 50 per cent – incurring the fury of local householders.

The proposals would see full-time staff paying between £504 and £810 a year for a permit.

The problem of staff cars piling into the streets around Rom Valley Way already ignites strong feeling among residents.

Homeowner James Perkins, 51, believes the price increase will drive even more staff to park on the streets around the hospital.

“I’m so annoyed,” he said. “It will snowball a million per cent.

“I don’t blame the staff for parking in our roads. It’s not their fault the hospital doesn’t provide them with parking that they can afford. It’s ridiculous that they can charge that amount to hospital workers.

“The nurses and other members of the hospital staff aren’t paid fortunes. They can ill afford the current rates, let alone what it’s going to be when it goes up.”

A spokesman for the hospital trust said staff spaces were beyond capacity at Queen’s and that patients and visitors should be given priority.

She added the trust was negotiating a reduced fee for staff to park at the Angel Way car park – about a mile from the hospital – which would be less than the cost of a permit.

“The suggested figure of a 50% increase is only an indicator at this stage, and would be subject to the consultation responses,” she said. “The trust is also considering offering staff a salary sacrifice scheme to pay for permits which, if introduced, would significantly reduce the impact of the charge.

“It is important that people are encouraged to use public transport, in line with our sustainability travel plan.”

There are 664 staff parking spaces at Queen’s, 12 of them for disabled people. The cost of a parking permit varies depending on the amount staff are paid annually.