The strength of feeling over car parking price hikes at Lincoln County Hospital has been demonstrated through the pages of the Lincolnshire Echo.

Over the past few weeks the newspaper has been inundated with letters of protest over the new charges, and the Echo has now taken the unusual step of publishing the names and addresses of all the readers who have so far written in.

The move meant the Echo had to sift through and alphabetize some 2,359 names, and dedicated nine pages to the “roll of honour”.

Editor Mike Sassi said: “We wanted to demonstate the strength of feeling on this issue.

“People talk about petitions but we felt we needed something fantastic which would grab people’s attention.

“It is the ultimate roll of honour for those that have bothered to get involved and stand up and be counted.”

Feedback from readers prompted the Echo to launch its Parking Mad campaign after United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust scrapped a 30 minute free parking period at the county hospital and implemented a £2.50 minimum charge, with a £3 charge payable for visitors staying between four and six hours, and a £10 charge for those staying between six and 24 hours.

Signs at the hospital have since been put up telling patients and visitors that they will pay just £3 if they stay between six and 24 hours – as long as they have their tickets validated at hospital reception, but the Echo wants prices returned to the previous flat rate charge of £2 for up to 24 hours, and is also calling for a one-hour free parking period to be introduced.

Mike said: “This is almost certainly the most successful campaign in the paper’s 111 year history.

“It is completely unprecendented. The issue has got people the most animated in all my time in local newspapers.”

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