Public hearing on Monklands Hospital parking plan

Oct 14 2009 by Judith Tonner, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

A PUBLIC hearing will be required over a proposal to prevent vehicles parking on streets around Monklands Hospital.

North Lanarkshire Council tabled a plan six months ago to impose a “no waiting or loading” traffic regulation order at Monkscourt Avenue, Manor Drive and Mavisbank Street.

Its purpose is to make it easier for drivers to negotiate the often-congested junction of the former two streets.

However, an objection has been received requesting the removal of the restriction outside a section of housing on Manor Drive.

Now a hearing before an independent person – likely to cost £1200-£2000 – will have to take place in order for the council to pursue their plans to ease congestion around the hospital.

A report for planning committee members at last week’s meeting said: “Parking demand in the area is high and on-street parking has now extended into adjacent roads.

“In particular, parking adjacent to the junction of Manor Drive and Monkscourt Avenue makes turning into and out of [it] difficult.”

Councillors were presented with the options of removing the waiting restriction entirely or only removing it outside the four houses concerned.

However, they agreed with officials that both options would still restrict the operation of the junction, and that the former would also be difficult to enforce.

They chose to pursue the original plan, even after hearing that the public hearing would cost £275 per day.

Planning officials noted: “The duration of the review is difficult to determine; however, based on previous experience, the anticipated costs would be £1200-£2000.”

Councillors also heard that any venue costs would have to be paid out of the roads budget for the current financial year.