Anger as commuters turn scenic riverside area into a car park

Oct 14 2010 By Jordan Costello

car park

CITY commuters are exploiting a loophole by parking along an unused public transport route - turning one of Glasgow's most scenic areas into a car park.

Dozens of vehicles are now dumped nose to tail along the empty Clyde-side lane along the Broomielaw every day.

The city council and partners spent millions regenerating the area by planting trees, laying grass, installing seating areas and building the Broomielaw-Tradeston Bridge.

But yellow lines were never painted along the lane, built as part of future public transport plans, and now at least 100 drivers a day use the 500-yard stretch of track as a free-for-all car park.

They use the zone despite there being two large car parks just 50 yards away, between the Kingston Bridge and Cheapside Street. Both cost under £3 per day.

Locals have blasted the drivers as inconsiderate and say they are ruining one of the nicest areas in the city.

Performance artist Kate Deeming, 37, from Pollokshields, uses the area to do her dance training.

She said: "It's calming to see trees and open space so close to the city centre and the parked cars take away from it.

"The council have put aside this area for pedestrians and cyclists - not for people to dump their cars beside it."

One local, who didn't want to be named, claimed the site was first used by an office worker, who parked there back in 2009. The driver was given a ticket but successfully appealed.

He said: "This person displays the letters on their dashboard to let everyone know they are entitled to park there.

"Word has spread since then and now it's completely full every morning."

Last night furious council bosses said they were planning to enforce new restrictions for the area.

A spokesman said: "This area should not be used for parking. We are preparing new restrictions to ensure attendants are able to enforce that, vigorously."