Planners back care home bid

Concerns over too few parking spots

Council planning staff have advised a committee to approve an application to build a new care home in Perth despite concerns the proposal provides too few car parking spaces.

Development company Westerwood applied late last year for consent to create a 77-bed facility on the site formerly occupied by Hillside Hospital between Dundee Road and the River Tay.

Planners have now prepared a report recommending councillors approve the application - despite receiving a number of objections raising concerns the company intends to form just 31 parking spaces.

Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council (BGKCC) pointed out earlier this year that assurances given by Westerwood that staff will be encouraged to use public rather than private transport to get to work were no guarantee that staff will choose to do this.

The group fears a majority of staff will not follow this guidance even if it is embedded in any travel plan the company produces for the site and will end up filling surrounding streets with more parked cars.

BGKCC raised its concerns after establishing PKC never checked to see whether a similar travel plan produced by NHS Tayside to discourage car usage at the new Murray Royal Hospital site was actually followed by staff after planning approval was given.

PKC has now said in a new report recommending the care home scheme be approved: “The proposals ... include a package of measures to aid more sustainable methods of travel including a relocated bus stop ... and cycle parking being provided on site.

“It is also noted that the site is located relatively close to the city centre with bus services on Dundee Road and good walking/cycling connections afforded by the adjacent riverside walk core path.

“In addition to the above, it is also proposed that the care home operator will produce a staff travel plan which will seek to manage staff use of the car park and encourage such measures as lift sharing and more sustainable modes of transport such as bus or cycling.

“This will be a live document that the care home operator will manage and adapt going forward.

“Such plans are well recognised as good practice and part of wider national policy in reducing car-based trips.”

The council’s development management committee is due to consider the report and its recommendations this morning (Tuesday, June 1).

...a package of measures to aid more sustainable methods of travel including a relocated bus stop