A DISABLED woman from Oare has hit out at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust after she received an £85 parking charge when visiting Savernake Hospital, despite following every one of their guidelines.

Sarah Snelling, of Sunnyhill Lane, parked at the trust's hospital in a disabled bay, displayed her badge on the dashboard with the time card and also went to the pay machine and typed in her registration number and pressed the green button for a disabled driver's ticket and displayed this on her dashboard.

Despite the 46-year-old, who has fibromyalgia, taking every precaution during her November 11 visit, last week she received an £85 parking charge notice as the ‘payment was not made in accordance with terms displayed on signage’.

The charge has enraged Ms Snelling as she took the extra steps not to incur a fine after reading a previous Gazette & Herald report that that a disabled Marlborough woman was fined because of changes to the parking policy at the hospital, which meant that her blue disabled badge was not valid as she did not register her car's details.

After she appealed this decision, it was discovered that the machine had a technical glitch. The fine has now been cancelled and an apology issued.

“I am completely gobsmacked. I just cannot understand it,” she said. “I took extra care in this after hearing about the Gazette and Herald’s story in October when a disabled woman was fined, so when the letter turned up I was really upset. I did everything that the signs indicated I should do. I did not exceed any time limits nor was I parked outside of the bay.

“This has caused me great stress and anxiety. I suffer from mental health issues including anxiety, panic attacks and severe depression and was at the time visiting my community psychiatric nurse at the hospital.

“I am on disability benefits and am also currently with a debt management plan as I am in financial crisis so I cannot afford to pay this. I have appealed it but I am not hopeful.

“I have cancelled my appointment this week out of fear I will get fined again. I did everything I could have done.”

In October, the trust promised to improve the signs warning disabled drivers that the badge alone is not enough to guarantee them free parking and remind them they need to register at the hospital reception or in the car park to avoid fines.

A Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: "Unfortunately on the day of this patient’s visit, there was a technical error with the ticket machine. We have been assured by Park Solve that the problem is now fixed.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience caused and have instructed Park Solve to cancel the charge.

“Anyone who has any issues with car parking at Savernake should contact the hospital’s reception on (01672) 517200.”