13 December 2007
Boost for commuters at Croy station
Plan to build 1250 space multi-storey car gets the go ahead
North Lanarkshire Council's Planning Committee has approved plans to build a multi-storey car park that could take up to 1,250 cars at Croy Station.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), the organisation behind the project, appointed First ScotRail to manage the project in March this year.
The plans passed by North Lanarkshire Council allow for a phased development of the site. The first phase involves the creation of a multi-storey car park (MSCP), followed by a second phase to reconfigure the existing car park.
This work will provide better bus interchange facilities, taxi and drop off area plus a mix of disabled and short term parking. The exact details of the number of spaces in each phase are currently being finalised.
The proposed MSCP is expected to be a three-storey construction. The foundations will be designed and constructed to support a further two decks, providing additional spaces if future expansion is required.
The MSCP will be built to a high safety and security specification, complete with an internal CCTV system. The car park will be well lit throughout. A priority for SPT is to ensure that the Croy development achieves the prestigious Park Mark Safer Parking Award from day one.
This award is made to car parks which pass a detailed inspection of crime prevention measures by officers from Strathclyde Police. The inspection also considers the measures in place that will deter anti-social behaviour so that travellers feel safe using the car park.
SPT Chair Councillor Alistair Watson welcomed the news saying: "We have been working behind the scenes for a long time to get this project off the drawing board and it hasn't all been plain sailing.
"Croy is an important station on the rail network and the demand for rail services going east and west, has never been stronger. The current parking arrangements at this station are well below standard, so I am delighted that the project has been given the go ahead by North Lanarkshire Council."
Peter Williams, First ScotRail's commercial director, said: "We welcome the planning committee's decision. It will increase the parking capacity and improve interchange facilities at one of our key stations on the Glasgow-Edinburgh route."
ends
Notes to editors:
- Planning permission for the car park was granted by North Lanarkshire Council on 27 November 2007.
- SPT's Shields Road Car Park was awarded the Park Mark certificate in April 2007.