A PRIVATE firm hoping to offer parking near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is appealing a council decision to reject its plan.

The Ogilvie Group will find out its fate on Tuesday after an original bid to extend temporary car parking on Hardgate Road for three years was refused in September.

It is the latest row in a saga which saw Glasgow City Council grant the Stirling-based company a one-year extension on appeal in September 2016.

That move followed heavy criticism from NHS staff and union bosses, who said the parking spaces were needed by workers and visitors.

This application, submitted in November 2017, would see a reduction in spaces from 772 to 350 to “reflect current levels of usage”.

The applicant said: “The NHS has reviewed the level of car parking at the QEUH and intend to increase parking on campus to 3,836 spaces.

“The NHS will therefore come forward with proposals to increase parking within the hospital site by 386 spaces over and above that originally approved.

“The temporary proposals at Hardgate Road will help to alleviate the continued on-street parking pressure experienced around the QEUH.

“Use as a temporary car park is considered a sustainable use of an otherwise vacant site.”

Permission was first granted for five years in July 2011 for a construction workers car park while the hospital was built.

The new application stated the previous bid received no objections and over 2,000 letters of support.

Council officers believe the car park would thwart plans to use public and sustainable transport.

They said: “The proposed car park offers a level of parking to NHS staff, patients and visitors, over and above that contained within the approved master plan for the QUEH.

“The proposal will not support better connectivity by public transport, will not discourage non-essential car journeys, will not encourage opportunities for active travel and will not contribute to reducing pollution.

“The proposed temporary car park is not consistent with an approved transport strategy for park and ride.”