"Parking Fine causing a great deal of upset"

I badly burned my arm at work last year. I went to the walk in centre at Newcastle General Hospital straight away. I read all the signs, and took them to mean that parking was free for patients (as is the case at the other Newcastle walk in centre I would normally use, on Ponteland Road). There was also no parking meter in the walk in centre car park (there are many separate car parks on this site).

I was at the walk in centre for 55 minutes, received some great care and advice, and went on my way. A couple of weeks later, I received a fine from the parking company informing me that I had breached a contract, and now owed them £70. I was very upset, and could not understand why I had received this. I drove straight up to the site, for another look at the signs. I took photos of the signs, as I truly feel they are misleading. I would understand if I had just been unwilling to pay the parking charge in the first place, but I was not. I have since found out that the charge is £1. 20 per hour, I would definitely have paid that if I had known!

It is also worth noting that when I went back up for a thorough check, that when I did find the parking meter, it is approximately 30-40 metres from the entrance to the walk in centre car park, with no clear directions or signs to it inside the car park. Also, you could not see it from the car park. I also took photos of the, in my opinion, misleading, signs.

I have now received a letter saying that if I do not pay the £70, I will be taken to court, where I will have to pay at least £145. This is causing me great distress, and I feel it is extremely unfair. I cannot be the only person that has fallen foul to this - especially people with greater injuries than myself, who would be stressed, upset and in a rush. I do hope someone can help me with this, as it is causing a great deal of upset.