VISITORS to Petersfield Hospital and the Swan Street Surgery will be forced to pay car- parking charges from Tuesday, August 1. The charges will apply Monday to Friday from 8-30 am to 5-30 pm, excluding bank holidays. Ann Smith, director of operational and corporate services with East Hampshire and Fareham and Gosport Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), said: "From August 1, we will be implementing a car-parking management system at Petersfield Hospital. "This is being done because the car park at the hospital has limited provision for parking. Double parking is causing a health- and- safety risk and there are reported incidences of people using other facilities in the local area taking advantage of the free hospital car park." Parking charges at the hospital will be: Up to one hour, 50p. Up to two hours, £1. Up to four hours £2. Up to 12 hours £5., Up to 24 hours, £10. Mrs Smith added: "We have discussed the pilot with staff and will ensure they are involved throughout. We will also involve patients, visitors and local people." Patients attending Swan Street Surgery will be issued with a time-limited parking permit, which will allow free parking in the dedicated Swan Surgery spaces. However, if there are not authorised places, patients will be asked to use the charged spaces at the hospital or the local authority car parks.