St Mirren car park scores a winner with environment

ST MIRREN Football Club is helping air passengers become more environmentally friendly after a business that leases the club’s car park launched a new offer for green-minded drivers.

The St Mirren Car Parking business offers a park and fly service from the club’s 500-space car park and has just introduced an electric Nissan vehicle to shuttle passengers to and from Glasgow Airport as well as a charging point to ensure electric cars are fully charged for drivers on collection.

The St Mirren Car Parking business was launched last year by businessman Allan McGinness and Iain Scanlon, who struck a deal with St Mirren to use its 500-space car park – which had been unused for 340 days of the year.

Mr McGinness said: “This initiative not only makes us the first in the UK to offer an electric vehicle shuttle service but it also underlines our commitment and support to the local community.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with St Mirren FC and providing new income to them, but what’s more the charging point is free to use to anyone as we know there is a limited availability in the area.”

The St Mirren Supporters Trust (SMiSA), which in July became the second largest shareholder at the club after a successful joint bid with new chairman Gordon Scott for the majority shareholding, said it fully supported the venture.

John White, SMiSA secretary, said: “The attitude and forward thinking outlook of the business owners is reflective of the positive changes happening all around St Mirren and Paisley at the moment.”

He added that the business’s perspective was similar in many ways to The Trust’s, “in that every consideration should be given to the community and the environment, particularly in today’s current economic and political climate where the wider social responsibilities being embraced by ordinary people and businesses is the main driver for the future.”