Glasgow East End residents raise concerns over car park plans

Plans to build a car park on council owned land in the East End have sparked concerns among residents who don’t want to lose green space.

Springhill MOT Station Ltd have applied for permission to build car parking, a five-a-side pitch and dog exercising space behind its garage on Swinton Road. The business said the bid aims to solve car parking problems in the Swinton area. But about 100 people turned up to a local community council meeting last week to voice worries about the plans for the Swinton Recreational Ground.

A Swinton Community Council spokesman said the development would lead to green space being lost. He said: “There are many different concerns. Residents feel putting in another car park would lead to more air, light and noise pollution. We don’t have a lot of greenspace in the Swinton area. The park is used very often. A lot of friendships have been made in that park.”

Swinton Road is plagued with parking problems with vehicles left on pavements and MOT Station Ltd hopes its plan will alleviate the issues. A spokesman from MOT Station Ltd said: “We are looking to solve the parking problems. We have a local business, which employs 17 people. We provide a good service to the community.”

It is understood the land subject to the planning proposal is owned by the council. John Brady Properties, which it is understood currently own the garage site, has requested to buy the 45 metre by 45 metre area of ground from the council. Springhill MOT Station Ltd rents the property according to a document lodged with the local authority.

The document on the purchasing bid said there is an objective to to prevent parking difficulties on Swinton Road and nearby streets by creating a customer drive-in garage parking area. It said the parking area would “avoid customer and car recovery vehicles abandoning vehicles” on Swinton Road and “future proof the garage’s need for additional customer parking” among other measures.

Baillieston councillors have also expressed concerns over the proposals. Labour councillor Kevin Lalley said: “It is the last green leisure space in Swinton. Glasgow City Council should be investing in these spaces – not selling them off. In my many years as a resident of Swinton I met many people in this park and have made many friendships which I still nurture to this day.”

SNP councillor Alex Kerr said: “The community in Swinton are clear in their strong dissatisfaction with the loss of green space and potential issues that could arise around traffic from an approval of this application in its current form. He added: “I will continue to work closely with the local community to assist in preparing an objection to protect the local green space for use by the community in Swinton – whether that be for walking dogs, playing football or simply as a space to relax for families.”

Glasgow City Council is considering the planning application.