A temporary car park in Grangemouth has been granted retrospective planning permission despite objections from the local community council.
The site, to the north-west of Wood Street, is being used as an overspill car park for construction workers building a renewable energy combined heat and power (CHP) plant at Calachem on Earl’s Road.
The permission lasts for two years, expiring on January 28, 2023 and strict times have been set for its use.
Grangemouth Community Council raised several issues relating to the site, which is close to houses on Wood Street, including concerns about vibration and unsatisfactory pedestrian access.
Councillor Allyson Black asked for the matter to be looked at by the Planning Committee, saying she had concerns that Wood Street, Chisholm Place and Beancross areas are already under pressure due to the heavy volume of traffic.
She said: “There are lots of issues with noise disturbance and having this level of traffic will only exacerbate the situation.”
Mrs Black also raised concerns about the increased amount of carbon emissions the increased traffic would create.
Members of the planning committee felt the car park is actually making the area safer by taking parking away from residential streets and would be a benefit to the community.
Several conditions have been imposed to try to address residents’ worries.
The car park can’t be used before 7am Monday to Friday, 8am on a Saturday and 10am on a Sunday and will close at 6pm every day.
Permission was also granted for fencing and floodlights as well as a storage area, but the lighting must face away from the residential properties on Wood Street and be switched off when the site is closed.
Planning officers have no power to enforce how vehicles access the site, but they are suggesting that drivers follow a route via the B9132 Newlands Road, Newhouse Road and Wood Street.
The agent has also confirmed to Falkirk Council that all contractors using the site would be made aware of the routing plan for vehicles in order to take them away from the neighbourhood roads on their journey to and from the site.
