The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has introduced new traffic cameras at Shotley Bridge Community Hospital in County Durham to help manage parking and keep local roads clear. On 10 March 2026, the Trust confirmed that number plate recognition technology is now in place to monitor vehicles entering and leaving the site. This move aims to stop visitors from parking on nearby residential streets where they might block access for emergency services and local residents.
While the new technology records vehicle movements, the hospital has confirmed that its main car parks will remain free of charge for patients and visitors. The equipment was installed by NHS Property Services to encourage people to use the designated spaces on the hospital grounds rather than the surrounding roads. Using the on-site bays is intended to make it easier for everyone to find a space without impacting the community.
Hospital officials say that parking on local streets, especially on double yellow lines, has caused safety issues and made it difficult for ambulances and hospital transport to get through. By better managing the site, the Trust hopes to remove these hazards and ensure that emergency vehicles can always reach the facility in County Durham without delay.
Visitors are now being asked to follow all new signs and guidance when they arrive at the hospital to ensure they are parking correctly. By using the official free bays provided on-site, the Trust aims to improve the flow of traffic and ensure the safety of all patients, staff, and neighbours.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
