Hospital parking approved despite local concerns

Google The entrance of Cumberland Infirmary. It has white revolving doors and a sign reading Welcome to Cumberland Infirmary. Two people are walking past and there are two parked cars.Google
The increased parking is described as an "essential improvement" to the Cumberland Infirmary

A new hospital car park has been approved despite concerns from residents.

The planning application for Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle was deferred in November so that an alternative with fewer parking spaces could be explored.

But Chris Hardman, Cumberland Council's head of development management, said a supporting statement from the applicant, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, still proposed the need for 180 spaces.

Councillor Anne Glendinning said that she found parts of the document "patronising" and claimed there had been no attempt to compromise.

"They didn't consider it at all, they just said this what we need," she said.

Glendinning, a Labour councillor in the ward where the car park will be built, objected to the proposal and added: "We should take into account the residents' needs."

Google An aerial view of the land where the car park will be built. It is between housing, another car park and a helicopter landing space.Google
The car park will be next to a helicopter landing pad

A spokesman for the applicant said parking at Cumberland Infirmary was "something of a challenge" and the proposal was an "essential improvement to the site".

Mr Hardman said one of the planning conditions for a new emergency treatment centre at the hospital was the replacement of parking spaces which were lost during the development.

Councillor Bob Kelly, Labour, said he understood there was a lack of parking at the site and wondered if the new spaces would be enough to satisfy demand.

He added: "I don't think the changes proposed here will solve the problem. I must oppose this."

Conservative councillor John Mallinson said better public transport arrangements would help improve the situation.

But fellow Conservative councillor Tony Markley said it was difficult for those from rural areas to travel to the hospital by public transport and there was an opportunity to extend the car park to meet demand.

Four voted in favour of the scheme at the planning committee's meeting on Wednesday, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Two were against and there was one abstention.

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