SNPinvowtoscrap G51 parking charges
CONTROVERSIAL parking charges for residents living near Glasgow’s super-hospital will be scrapped should the SNP win control of the council in May.
The party has announced it will not introduce parking permits for locals living near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
It comes ahead of the local government elections later this year, which could see the SNP control Glasgow city council for the first time in history.
Residents living in Govan received letters from local SNP councillor Stephen Dornan, stating the party’s position on the issue.
Locals previously raised concerns about the proposals, which would see car owners pay £50 for a permit to park outside their houses, and protested against the plans.
The letters, delivered on Thursday by the SNP councillor, stated: “After listening to the concerns of residents and after discussions with the G51 Parking Group I can confirm that my colleagues and I are 100% committed that there will be no parking charges implemented in and around the new hospital.
“At the last meeting of the Drumoyne Community Council I informed them of the aforementioned commitment. We will now work with the G51 group and local residents to resolve the parking issues.
“I give you my commitment that we will resolve the parking issues affecting our community.”
As previously reported by the Evening Times, campaigners from the G51 Free Parking Group have been fighting against the proposals to introduce charges for parking, brought about since the new hospital opened.
Congestion in the area has been problematic for locals, who say they often have wait hours to get home due to the traffic coming to and from the £842million facility.
Last year the council called in an independent reviewer to assess their plans, and have now put the proposals on hold for further consideration.
Following review, the local authority were advised to lower the permit cost to £15, the visitor permits to 60p and the business permits to £210 per year.
They are still to decide whether to take the recommendations of the review, continue with their original plans or scrap the idea altogether.
Govan SNP Councillor Stephen Dornan, who has been working to find a solution to the problem of parking around the new Queen Elizabeth university Hospital, said: “No infrastructure was planned for when the new hospital was built and it is wrong that my constituents should pay for the incompetence of the current administration and their lack of vision.
“That is why we are 100% behind the community in resisting charges and can assure residents that an incoming SNP administration will work with local residents and the G51 campaign to reach a solution that benefits the community rather than punishes it.
“The new Community Empowerment Act implemented by the SNP government will allow our community’s voice to be heard and their ideas actioned.
“We will be a listening city administration and make decisions in the best interest of our community rather than self-interest.
“That is how we will make this city a better place to live.”