DRIVERS misusing a GP surgery's car park has forced the practice to bring in parking restrictions.

People who leave their cars in the Barbourne Health Centre's car park without visiting the surgery will now be hit with a fine.

The surgery has been plagued with drivers taking much-needed spaces from genuine patients who had struggled to find spaces.

Genuine patients will avoid fines by entering their car's registration into a keypad inside the surgery on Droitwich Road.

Barbourne Health Centre released a statement explaining the changes.

READ MORE: New affordable homes could be built on land in Claines

It said: "We would like to advise all of our patients that over the next couple of weeks parking restrictions will be put in place in the car park.

"This is due to the growing number of vehicle owners leaving their cars here when they are not using any of the on-site services, including the pharmacy.

"There will be keypads in the main points of the service areas for you to enter your vehicle registration, failure to do so will result in fines being issued.

"Notices will be displayed and CCTV cameras will be put up in the car park by the parking company.

"Any fines issued are not the responsibility of the practice and should you receive one, there will be instructions on who to contact if you wish to dispute this.

"We have listened to patients' feedback regarding the struggles of parking for appointments etc and feel this is the only way we can manage this successfully for the benefit of the service users."

People responding to the statement were pleased to see the restrictions being brought in.

However, some people were worried patients would forget to put in the licence plate numbers and end up being fined.

"We will be putting plenty of notices up in the surgery/pharmacy.

"The car park will also have notices.

"We are also looking into putting a notice on the touch screen when you book in for appointments.

"The staff on site will also try and remind when we can."

The surgery also clarified that customers attending the pharmacy will also be able to use the car park.

Barbourne Health Centre added: "The pharmacy is classed as a service on this site.

"You are still able to just go the pharmacy and there will be a vehicle keypad in the pharmacy waiting area."