ROYAL STOKE MULTI-STOREY RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL
But neighbours concerned over traffic and air pollution due to increase in vehicle trips on wider highway network
PLANS for a 1,700-space multistorey car park at Staffordshire’s main hospital look set to be approved – despite concerns over traffic and air pollution.
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust wants to demolish homes in Grindley Hill Court, Hartshill, to make way for a five-storey car park for staff at the Royal Stoke.
But neighbours fear the single entrance and exit being proposed could lead to lengthy queues in Hilton Road and congestion on other roads in the area.
But highways officers believe it is ‘unlikely’ the car park would have a major impact on the highway network, and the scheme has been recommended for approval by councillors.
UHNM is proposing the multistorey to replace existing staff parking on the Royal Infirmary and Central Outpatients sites - both of which are set to be redeveloped with new housing.
Access to the car park would be via a new junction in Hilton Road, opposite Oliver Road, with no direct vehicular link to the hospital’s internal road network. Access to the site would be controlled by automatic number plate recognition technology, with staff requiring a permit to use the car park.
According to a transport assessment submitted as part of the planning application, the car park ‘will not result in an increase in vehicle trips on the wider highway network’ and that the use of ANPR with no barriers will mean queues will be avoided.
The report says moving staff parking away from the Royal Infirmary site will reduce the number of car journeys through nearby residential areas, and that any worsening of traffic at some local junctions will be offset by a reduction in traffic at other junctions.
But Hartshill and Harpfields Residents’ Association has raised concerns over the traffic impact on local roads, particularly in relation to vehicles leaving the car park to travel north on the A34 via the Albany Road, The Avenue junction. HHRA has called for an additional entrance and exit onto Ravine Road, which would give motorists direct access to the A34.
The letter from HHRA states: “Providing this option would reduce usage of Hilton Road and in consequence the likelihood of long queues forming at the Albany Road/the Avenue junction which already suffers from a backlog at peak times without the impact of the additional traffic inevitably produced by the new car park.”
The residents’ association has also raised concerns over motorists using Oliver Road and other local roads as ‘rat runs’ to avoid queueing traffic, and has suggested that access restrictions could prevent this.
Aziz and Elizabeth Rahmatalla, who live in Hilton Road, have submitted an objection raising concerns over the impact of fumes from cars using the car park on the health of local people.
But an air quality assessment has suggested the car park will only result in a ‘negligible’ impact on air quality.
Planning officers at Stokeon-trent City Council have recommended the application for approval by the authority’s planning committee.
Their report states: The proposed development would provide strategic benefits to the hospital and resolve longstanding parking challenges.
“It has been assessed against the development plan and all material considerations and is supported by your officers subject to the imposition of necessary planning conditions.”
Planning committee members will make a decision when they meet on June 8.