UNION leaders and local residents have slammed plans to axe car parking spaces near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Private firm Ogilvie Group had a bid to extend temporary car parking on Hardgate Road for three years refused in September.

An appeal against the decision, which is the latest stage in an ongoing saga, will be heard by planning chiefs tomorrow (Tuesday).

Health workers union Unison says car parking at the hospital is “woefully inadequate” while nearby residents fear the impact of extra cars on the streets.

Cathy Miller, Branch Secretary for Greater Glasgow & Clyde CVS Branch, said: “Unison continue to support the Ogilvie car park and would be extremely disappointed if it was to close.

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“The parking on the hospital site is woefully inadequate and does not accommodate the sheer number of people who work there or attend as a patient or visitor.

“If this car park was closed it would further exacerbate the parking problems that people who live within the vicinity of the hospital have to face every day.”

The application, which was submitted in November 2017, would see a reduction in spaces from 772 to 350 as the number of people using the car park has dropped.

A planning statement from the applicant says the car park will help to alleviate continued on-street parking pressure around the hospital.

Members of ‘G51 Free Parking Group’, which campaigns against parking issues around the hospital, are concerned about potentially losing the car park.

A spokesman said: “Although the car park has been less busy these last few months, it still has a significant number of users.

“If it closes we will end up with all these cars on our streets. This seems ill-timed as there is currently a Strategic Transport Appraisal Group (STAG) considering transport in the area including parking issues and it is due to report back this month.

“It is inconceivable that the committee is making a decision on this application prior to the STAG report.

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“We are particularly concerned that this application has not been discussed with us or with the local Community Council – as it will have implications for our area.”

However, council officers believe the car park would stop people from using public transport.

In rejecting the initial application, they said the proposal would not discourage “non-essential” car journeys or contribute to reducing pollution.

Permission was first granted for five years in July 2011 for a construction workers car park while the hospital was built. The Council then granted Stirling-based company Ogilvie Group a one-year extension on appeal in September 2016.

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