Go- ahead to reduce cars in Pollok Park

GLASGOW’S largest park can be made more pedestrian and cyclist- friendly, city councillors have ruled. A new car park, with 277 spaces, will be built to the edge of Pollok Country Park – and an electric shuttle bus service is set to be introduced.

The city’s planning committee has now approved an active travel management scheme, which includes altering entrance and exit routes.

A new entrance can be formed at the existing Haggs Road junction with Shawmoss Road.

The car park, which will include 20 cycle spaces, will be created on a former hockey pitch at Nether Pollok.

There will be a road, allowing two- way traffic, between the new car park and the existing car park at the Burrell Collection.

The council officer said: “Access to the Burrell Collection car park will be, for the most part, blue badge holders.

“There will be a barrier immediately to the west of the car park to control access.”

The Burrell Collection is set to reopen in spring next year and the council believes there will be a “significant spike” in visitors.

It has predicted 800,000 visitors in the year of reopening, dropping to 400,000 per year after five years.

The active travel management plan intends to encourage people to leave their cars at home.

Barriers will restrict vehicles’ access to the wider park. These will be in place at the existing Pollokshaws Road entrance, at Pollok House and at both car parks. They will remove “uncontrolled” or “verge parking” in the park.

Overspill parking will also be reduced, from 775 to 320, and the Burrell car park will have 144 spaces, down from 341. It is expected parking will cost £ 2.40 for up to four hours and £ 4.50 for longer stays, with free parking for blue badge holders.

The money from the parking charges would fund the electric shuttle bus, the council has said.

This shuttle service will take visitors from the car parks and transport points on Pollokshaws Road to Pollok House and the Burrell. There were 38 objections to the council’s plan, with residents on nearby streets concerned visitors to the park will now park for free on surrounding roads, causing congestion.