Your response has been overwhelming (From Northwich Guardian)

Your response has been overwhelming

11:20am Wednesday 11th March 2009 in

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AFTER the first two weeks of campaigning, almost 700 readers have put their names to the Guardian’s Scrap the Fees appeal.

The community spirit and ingenuity of our readers are becoming more apparent every day as they do all they can to get plenty of petition forms returned to our office.

Scrap the Fees has been launched in a bid to get the controversial parking fees at the Victoria Infirmary Northwich (VIN) abolished.

The fees, introduced by Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust in April last year, see patients paying £3 if they want to park for more than 20 minutes.

Dorie Willington, pictured below, a former town mayor and former nurse at the infirmary, has dropped off petition forms at plenty of shops and businesses across Northwich and others have come forward to ask us for a supply.

Some readers have been photocopying the forms, or scanning them into their computers and printing them off, and then collecting signatures from their friends, family and neighbours.

Postbags have certainly been bulging since we started the campaign – and the Guardian is giving each stamp we receive to charity, with leprosy and guide dogs charities benefitting from our campaign.

Groups are also getting on board.

Shirley Cope, secretary of Northwich and District Vale Royal pensioners, said she was urging members to support the Guardian.

“They’re all very much in support of the campaign and are all quite angry and upset about the fees.

“I used to have to go to the pool there and although you have yourself dressed to go in you come out and you’re wet, that’s the drag – and time’s going on then for parking.

“The fees effect a lot of elderly people – they can ill afford it in a lot of ways and it’s a worry to them.

“It’s not good enough, there’s no need.”

We are collecting forms until April 29, then they will be given to Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall, who will present them in Parliament.

Readers can also download printable petition forms and posters from our website, which also features all of our campaign stories and a section for reader comments.

Why not stick a poster up at work, in your window at home or in your car to show your support?

All forms should be returned to Gina Bebbington, Northwich Guardian, 3 Theatre Court, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 5HB.

Visit northwichguardian.co.uk and follow the links to Hospital Parking Campaign for more information.Abbeycroft Veterinary Centre, in Northwich.

You can also pick up petition forms from Marie Curie Cancer Care shop, in Northwich British Heart Foundation shop, in Northwich Prooz, in Northwich Coulson’s newsagents, in Northwich Tool Shop, in Northwich Cosy Kitchen, in Northwich Chatwins, in Northwich Kanya, in Northwich Hollins and Hollinshead, in Northwich Londis, in Winnington K9 Dog Hydrotherapy, in Winnington Bargain Booze, in Lostock Gralam Eastfield Pharmacy, in Lostock Gralam Lostock Gralam Post Office Newsagent, in Lostock Gralam The Codfather, in Lostock Gralam Ye Old Chippy, in Castle Henry’s Hair Centre, in Castle The Cake Den, in Castle Bargain Booze, in Rudheath BP Garage, in Rudheath Newsagent in Northwich Road, in Weaverham Spar, in Wincham Susan’s Cafe, in Wincham