A PARKING fine levied by the operators of a hospital car park on a heavily pregnant woman has been withdrawn after the Guardian’s intervention.

Nicola Lashmar, 38, of Theydon Bois, was attending one of her final ante-natal sessions at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow on the coldest day of the year so far when she was hit with the £100 fine.

On crutches and nine-months pregnant, Mrs Lashmar parked in an unmarked bay rather than risk crossing the car park which was covered in snow and ice.

She said: “They hadn’t gritted the car park and I had to park wherever I could. Where I parked was quite safe and I was not blocking anyone, I was just going to see my midwife.

“They gave me a ticket and I wrote to them to explain that hospitals are being charged fortunes when they are sued for not gritting their car parks.

“They wanted me to put my life and my baby’s life in danger by parking in a marked bay that wasn’t gritted and that was like an ice rink, and I wasn’t prepared to do this.”

Her appeal to Excel, the company contracted to manage the hospital car park, was refused and when she rang the advertised number to contest the decision she was left listening to recorded music on a premium rate phone line.

When the Guardian contacted the hospital trust a spokeswoman insisted the car park had been gritted but within two hours of our call had arranged to cancel the fine.

She added: “The safety of visitors to the site is a priority for the organisation.

“Throughout the cold weather staff made every effort to keep the hospital grounds clear.

“The Trust used five tonnes of salt to grit the car parks, footpaths, and other main access areas up to three times a day.

“The Trust publicly advised those people coming to the site to allow plenty of time and take care when on hospital grounds.”

A grateful Mrs Lashmar said the case showed what the threat of publicity could achieve, adding: “It’s not just about me and my point of view. I gave them every chance to resolve it and I think it’s really naughty to hire people that don’t listen to reason.”