Houldsworth car park finally opens to public
The long-awaited decked car park at the £23 million Houldsworth Centre is now open.
The car park, which was due to open in March, is free to use and will have spaces for 243 vehicles including disabled parking.
Since the facility opened nine months ago, parking has been a major problem for patients and visitors.
Retired GP Alec Workman had tried to drop his wife off for an appointment using the assigned drop-off spaces. However the area was filled with parked cars.
Alec said: “I’d like to think the new car park will solve the problems but it all comes down to whether people will use it instead of parking where they shouldn’t.
“The car park should have been open in time for the building opening as it’s not always easy to get parked at the centre.
Graham Johnston, NHS Lanarkshire’ s head of management services said: “We’re delighted that the new car park is now open and expect this to deliver a major improvement to parking provision in the local area. It’s a significant increase in capacity over the previous parking arrangements and will be of great benefit to patients and the local community.”
Entrance to the new car park is via Kenilworth Avenue. There is a designated drop off area on Library Road outside the Houldsworth Centre and drivers are reminded that it is not for parking.
Councillor Willie Hogg, convener of North Lanarkshire Council’s corporate services committee, said: “The new car park is the final element to complete the Houldsworth Centre development, which has brought vital health and council services together in the heart of Wishaw town centre.”
The centre is well served by public transport and is located close to bus and rail routes.