Dodgy parking and incorrect road signs are putting pedestrians in danger outside a hospital, a community group has claimed.

The Friends of Braintree Hospital are have raised concerns about parking and signage at Braintree Community Hospital, in Chadwick Drive, to the Mid Essex Hospitals Trust during several health and safety meetings.

Cars are parking on the road near to Blandford Medical Centre, located on the same site, and making it difficult for drivers and walkers to see.

A spokesman for the friends said: “It is one of the issues we have brought to their attention. We have regularly asked when something is going to be done about it.

“Around a month ago there was a crash between two cars at the hospital so it causes problems.”

The road markings have also been painted incorrectly, meaning that drivers that use the car park are often being sent in the wrong direction.

The spokesman continued: “The signage is not adequate and the signs on the road aren’t even correct.

“It is a hazard and a danger. Something needs to be done sooner rather than later before there is another accident.”

Councillor David Mann (Labour, Bocking North) is also a trustee on the board of Friends of Braintree Community Hospital.

He said he believes there is an issue with whose responsibility the stretch of road is, with the Mid Essex Hospitals Trust, Essex County Council and the owners of the land.

A spokesman for the Mid Essex Hospitals Trust said: “It was recently brought to the Trust’s attention that there had been a minor road traffic collision at the perimeter of the Braintree Community Hospital site and Blandford GP surgery.

"Following an initial assessment by Trust staff, the Trust is looking to meet with the highways department to discuss some suggested alterations to the road layout the council can make to prevent this kind of incident, and indeed the flow of traffic in this area. 

"One of the main problems is vehicles parking on a pavement in an area that obstructs vision and a two-way exit.”