Calls have been made for a multi-storey car park to be built at the Royal Alexandra Hospital to make life easier for staff who travel to their work.

It follows the decision by health chiefs to operate a barrier at the Paisley hospital to protect spaces for patients and visitors.

Currently, there are 1,162 parking spaces at the hospital site and 55 per cent of these – totalling 644 spaces – are for workers.

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Of these, 309 are for staff who don’t have permits and are available on a first come, first served basis.

However, before the introduction of the barrier, many employees used the car park facing Corsebar Road, as well as surrounding streets, because of a lack of spaces elsewhere at the RAH site.

Renfrewshire Council has now put forward a traffic regulation order for Corsebar Road, which could see ‘pay and display’ short and long-stay spaces created there.

But there are concerns this could create further parking problems for staff, including many who travel from towns and villages across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.

Councillor Carolann Davidson, who represents Paisley East and Central, said the impact that parking restrictions have already had on RAH workers has been “horrendous.”

She added: “Staff will be pushed to park further and further away from the hospital.

“A multi-storey car park at the RAH absolutely has to be looked into.”

Renfrewshire Council will now contact the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) to express concern over the impact the parking changes have had on residents and RAH staff.

A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said it is important to provide enough spaces for patients and visitors to ensure they get to appointments on time.

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She added: “The response from patients and visitors has been positive since the introduction of the barrier.

“The RAH has the most generous staff car parking per head of all our sites.

“Following meetings with staff, a short life working group was set up to look at any ongoing issues as we wish to resolve any issues as quickly as possible.

“When the barrier was introduced, we said we would monitor traffic flow and numbers to balance the demands of all car park users. As a result of this, the barrier is no longer used in the afternoon peak times.

“NHSGGC has no plans to build a multi-story car park at the RAH. Renfrewshire Council would be better placed than us to discuss their plans for new parking regulations on Corsebar Road."