TEIGNBRIDGE Council has come under fire after charging the local health trust to put its mobile breast screening unit in its car parks.

The authority’s decision to charge Torbay and South Devon health trust for placing the screening machinery in its car parks has led the trust to rely on private companies instead.

The policy has been criticised by Buckfastleigh town councillor Sue Clarke, who said local people had been ‘outraged’.

The council says it is currently reviewing its approach to parking fees and concessions, and in a statement the health trust said it had been using private car parks instead.

A trust spokesperson said: ‘Screening for cancer is an important tool to help detect and diagnose cancers so people can begin treatment as quickly as possible.

‘Teignbridge District Council charges for the use of its car park facilities.

‘We are grateful to Buckfast Abbey, the House of Marbles at Bovey Tracey, Sainsbury’s in Dawlish and Morrisons in Teignmouth for allowing us to park our mobile breast screening unit in their car parks to ensure residents can access tests in their community.’

Cllr Clarke said her most recent mammogram appointment had been hosted by the unit at Buckfast Abbey instead of its usual position in the town’s main car park, where she had been using it for the last 25 years.

‘Teignbridge has asked the NHS to pay thousands of pounds to situate the breast screening unit in the car park for its two week duration,’ she said.

‘This is a car park that is mostly empty 100 per cent of the time.

‘This is similar in Bovey Tracey and Dawlish.

‘Each of these towns had also been asked for thousands of pounds to situate the mobile breast screening unit in their car parks and had had to find local businesses who were willing to allow space in their car parks for free instead.

‘The NHS was lucky to get the space at Buckfast Abbey as it only came about after the abbey had a cancellation.

‘Had this not been the case the breast screening unit would not have been able to come to Buckfastleigh this year.

‘I have been told of at least two women in the past who had their cancer detected after attending the breast screening unit in Buckfastleigh.’

Cllr Clarke said that local people had been outraged when she highlighted the issue on social media. And, she added: ‘I have never had so many messages privately from individuals expressing their utter disgust at Teignbridge.

‘Buckfastleigh is the third most deprived rural town in Devon and yet the council tax we pay to Teignbridge does not even warrant us essential health screening services.’

The government’s chief medical adviser Sir Chris Whitty recently visited the town where he heard concerns about the impact of poverty and isolation on rural health.

A spokesperson for Teignbridge Council said any requests to waive parking charges for events, health services or other initiatives were considered by the council on a case-by-case basis.

The spokesperson went on: ‘Where charges have applied, we have sought to offer the maximum reduction available within our policy to support our health partners. We are pleased that the NHS was able to secure an alternative nearby location.

‘The council is currently reviewing its approach to parking fees and concessions. We recognise the importance of ensuring that health services remain accessible to residents and remain supportive of initiatives that promote the health and wellbeing of our communities.’