A CLAMPDOWN on “uncontrolled parking” and restricting vehicle access are among measures being proposed to make Pollok Country Park more pedestrian and cycle-friendly.
The Transforming Pollok Country Park Project aims to make major improvements at the showpiece greenspace — Glasgow’s largest park — ready for an expected increase in visitors when The Burrell Collection re-opens in early 2021 after a multi-million pound transformation.
Documents produced as part of consultation over the changes state that “[uncontrolled car parking] impacts upon visitor experience and safety, and diminishes the importance of the park as a green space for leisure and nature conservation.
“The overall vision of the project is to deliver a high quality green space within the city which is accessible to all. Through various landscaping installations and points of interest along the route, people will be encouraged to walk to attractions and enjoy the park’s diverse mix of green space.”
The large number of vehicles parking on main routes restricts other park users and emergency access. Cycle routes are blocked by parked cars, and vehicles regularly restrict access to pedestrian routes.
The statements continue: “During peak periods and events, the lack of controlled parking results in long delays for visitors both entering and exiting the park by car or coach.
“To ensure the proposed park infrastructure can operate effectively, it is necessary to implement a managed parking solution to prevent unrestricted parking throughout the site.
“The key principle of the redesigned access and reorientation strategy is to reduce traffic and unrestricted parking in the centre of the park by implementing an active travel management plan.”
A new 280-space perimeter car park with lighting will be constructed on the former red blaes gravel pitches at Nether Pollok, near the Haggs Road entrance. The Burrell Collection car park will be kept as will the Riverside car park next to Pollok House.
However all car parks will operate as pay and display. There will be no free parking outwith Blue Badge spaces. The level of charge has not been finalised although initial proposals are £2 for four hours and £3 for all day.
Additional physical measures will be put in place to prevent unauthorised parking along park roads, in laybys and other non-designated areas.
The site of the proposed 280-space car park at Nether Pollok
There will be one main access route for vehicles. The main entrance point will be provided at Haggs Road opposite Herries Road by upgrading the road junction there. The existing park road will be widened to support two-way access to the new and existing car parks.
A new, lit, shared-surface entrance for pedestrians, cyclists and authorised vehicles will be created along Pollok Avenue from the Pollokshaws Road entrance. Private vehicles will no longer be able to enter the park there. Controlled barriers will be installed at strategic points so that only authorised vehicles have access.
Other measures for visitors arriving on foot and bike include:
— The existing woodland path at the Pollokshaws Road entrance being upgraded, with steps and steep gradients removed, to provide lit pedestrian access to the Burrell Collecton.
— A new, lit segregated path providing pedestrian access to the centre of the park from Haggs Road
— A two-way cycle route will begin after the shared surface on Pollok Avenue, shared with authorised vehicle traffic only. This will enable a safe route for cyclists travelling west to east which is not possible at present.
One-way access from Pollokshaws Road will be provided for a limited number of authorised vehicles. These will be residents; allotment plot holders; and those associated with Poloc Cricket Club and Police Scotland dog centre. This route will also be used by park service vehicles and a proposed shuttle bus service.
There will be appropriate traffic calming measures to restrict vehicles to 10mph, while taking account of cyclists.
Proposals are being developed for a seasonal shuttle bus service operating within the park as well as a Southside tour bus route that would include the park.
These would call at the Pollokshaws Road, entrance, the central park area, The Burrell Collection, below, Pollok House and the new perimeter car park.
A variety of high quality hard landscaping will be used to create smooth finishes with main routes being accessible for visitors with impaired mobility. There will also be carefully-selected soft landscaping.
Way-finding lighting will be provided for a specific period of time after the park’s main attractions close, using “environment-appropriate” luminaires along the resurfaced pedestrian routes.
The next stage of the project will be formal submission of a planning application.
