HOSPITAL CAR PARK PLAN SET TO GET GO-AHEAD

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new 1,600-space car park at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) are set to be approved despite uproar from neighbours.

The major new staff-only car park is proposed at the rear of the hospital to help free up spaces for visitors in the existing front car park.

But the long-running planning saga, which first saw plans submitted to the city council in 2018, has drew concern from local councillors and residents who have raised fears over access, traffic and the possibility of flooding.

Revised proposals remove a contested time-controlled exit onto Farber Road which would have pumped 565 vehicles out onto the small Mount Pleasant Estate.

However UHCW has expressed “significant concern” that without the Farber Road exit, a single exit onto Clifford Bridge Road would create traffic congestion which could affect ‘blue light’ emergency access.

Highways officers have raised no concern, however, and planning officer Liam D’onofrio has recommended it is approved ahead of a planning committee on Thursday, June 18.

He said: “Significant weight is given to the fact that the additional parking provision will provide a clear benefit to the hospital operations, hospital staff and patients/visitors by reducing on site congestion around Clifford Bridge Road by reducing the number of vehicles driving around the site looking for parking spaces.

“The use of the site for car parking directly linked to and for the benefit of the hospital is therefore considered to be acceptable in principle.”

A total of 118 letters of support have been sent to the council.

But there have been 88 letters of objection and two petitions against the plans - totalling 470 signatures - with some local residents saying it would cause “chaos” on the roads.

Neighbourhood group Walsgrave Community Forum have also warned the fields it is proposed on are “prone to flooding every winter”.

The proposed car park is on a designated flood zone and a flood risk assessment carried out on behalf of developer Prime (UK) Developments Ltd identified the site is at ‘high risk’ of groundwater flooding due to the River Sowe and Withy Brook - even proposing ‘crash barriers’ to stop “unattended vehicles floating away”.

However Mr D’onofrio believes ground levelling will ensure there is “no additional flood risk”, while the council’s drainage team said the applicant has demonstrated it is a “’water compatible development”.

The Trust which runs UHCW has said parking is a “major issue” and that the plans would “significantly improve the experience for both our patients and our staff ”.

They said: “Our patients and visitors frequently tell us that while they are happy with their care, there are not enough car parking spaces on our site.

“As one of the largest employers in Coventry; this development would allow us to offer secure on-site car parking to our dedicated doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants, who work around the clock to care for our patients.

“It would also help the Trust to recruit more world class staff in the future.”