By Craig Smith

DEVELOPMENTS AT Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital will be supported by adequate parking, NHS Fife has stressed.

Councillors on Fife’s planning committee gave the proposed £150m extension—to see a six-storey building created to the south-east of the existing hospital tower block—the green light last month.

The extension will double the hospital’s ward capacity and bring to the town 11 extra operating theatres, an emergency care centre, a maternity unit and facilities for ultrasound scanning, critical care patients and kidney dialysis.

While many councillors welcomed the plans, several have expressed concerns about parking, something that has been a problem at the hospital for many years.

To address those fears, consultants for NHS Fife are drawing up a transport assessment and travel plan which the health authority believes will cover the transport infrastructure needed for the biggest investment in Fife’s health service for many years.

Car parking is proposed on the southern part of the site with two access points from Lauder Road, while additional parking is proposed to the north with access from Hayfield Road and to the east with access from Dunnikier Road.

A total of 1621 spaces will be created upon completion of the project.

They will consist of 1271 car spaces on the main site and 350 spaces at the Whytesman’s Brae car park.

As detailed in the Victoria Hospital travel plan, dated May 2007, a minimum of 667 car parking spaces will be provided during construction.

As a condition of the application being approved by Fife Council, NHS Fife has been told in no uncertain terms it will have to address urgently any parking problems which may arise.

Council planner Bernard Whittle said, “NHS Fife shall undertake annual monitoring of the levels of car parking on the surrounding road network in liaison with Fife Council transportation services.

“In the event that hospital users are parking in surrounding streets, to the detriment of other road users, NHS Fife will be required to bring forward proposals for discussion with the council’s transportation services department to address the parking shortfall within the hospital site.”

Secure cycle parking spaces will also be provided, while the council has pledged to maintain and improve the existing cycle network to help promote sustainable ways of travelling to the hospital.

In addition to the car parking proposals, Fife Council has drawn up a list of improvements which will have to be made to the surrounding road network to ensure the anticipated increase in motorists travelling to and from the hospital does not have a detrimental effect elsewhere.

Traffic lights will be installed at the junction of Dunnikier Road/Lauder Road/Wilson Avenue, the junction of Dunnikier Road and Hayfield Road, and at the junction of Hayfield Road/Whyteman’s Brae, and where the new hospital access will be.

The work will include the removal of the existing controlled pedestrian crossing facilities on Dunnikier Road and Hayfield Road.

A mini-roundabout will be built at the access to the hospital site to join it to Lauder Place and Kelso Place, while improvements will be made at the Hayfield Road/Hendry Road, Templehall Avenue/Hendry Road and Whyteman’s Brae/Dunnikier Way junctions.

The improvement works are being included in a legal agreement with NHS Fife, which also requires NHS Fife to make a financial contribution to the dualling of Chapel Level between its junctions with Fair Isle Road and Hendry Road, and enhancements at Wester Bogie roundabout.

NHS Fife will be contributing along with Fife Council, John Smith Business Park and the developers of the new Muttonhall homes site.