Hospital staff granted two-year car park reprieve

NHS Grampian staff will be able to continue to use a car park at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary which was built exclusively for patients and visitors.

Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has conditionally granted approval for a variation to planning conditions, for a temporary two-year period.

The Lady Helen car park opened in 2018 and was funded by the Wood Foundation to improve parking at the Foresterhill site, as well as reducing stress for patients and their families.

During the Covid pandemic, staff were allowed to park on certain levels and successfully protested in 2023 when it looked like that right might be removed.

NHS Grampian will now carefully monitor and record use of the facility, to ensure it continues to benefit patients and visitors first.

The lower floors will remain for the use of patients and visitors only, while staff, patients and visitors will be able to access spaces from Level 6 and above.

A number plate recognition system will also be installed.

At the end of the two-year period, a decision will be made on whether to make this permanent.

In a statement NHS Grampian said it welcomed the decision of ACC to allow a variation in the planning permission for the next two years.

"This valuable facility was built for the benefit of patients and visitors, and we remain committed to that," it said.

"We believe careful traffic management will ensure it can be shared with our hardworking staff without any detriment to the public.

"We continue to support alternatives to the car, including public transport, cycling, and walking, and would always encourage those who are able to, to make use of these alternatives."

The Wood Foundation has been approached for comment.