SCOTLAND’S new £75 million crime-fighting hub has come under fire from residents who claim they are facing traffic jams and disruption caused by the site.
Homeowners have complained routes are blocked by vehicles parked on both sides of the road by employees based at the Scottish Crime Campus, which has limited on-site parking facilities.
While 1200 employees are housed at the HQ it only has space for 650 vehicles, forcing hundreds of workers to park outside the centre in Gartcosh, Lanarkshire.
The campus was opened two years ago and houses various different organisations involved in law enforcement including the Crown Office, Police Scotland, HM Revenue and Customs and the National Crime Agency.
Figures earlier this year showed 300 wanted international criminals had been snared since it opened its doors and bosses claim the facility is one of the most advanced crime fighting hubs in Europe.
But residents, community groups and politicians have called for action to be taken to clear up the traffic problems.
Resident and chairman of the local history group, Tommy MacAloney, 81, said: “It’s an absolute disgrace what is happening here.
“They spent millions of pounds building the crime campus building but completely forgot to build a car park that is big enough for all the staff.
“Because of that, they are forced to park out on the street here and it causes chaos.
“The cars have completely destroyed the drainage on the side of the road, and the big massive lorries that also park here aren’t helping either.
“We’ve all been complaining about it but nothing seems to be getting done and it looks like it will just stay the same way that it is.”
Officials say they are aware of the issue, and have met with crime campus bosses as well as a local campaign groups.
Tory Central Scotland MSP Margaret Mitchell has written to Police Scotland chief constable Phil Gormley demanding action.
She said: “Gartcosh community council has informed me that their representatives recently had a meeting with the management of the crime campus in which a number of initiatives have been suggested by the management in order to solve this issue.
“However it is the community council belief that the only satisfactory solution is to build an additional car park for the staff.”
A spokesman for Gartcosh Community Council said: “We have had the traffic police look at the problem but they claimed there was no issue.
“There are 21 different agencies in that building and it is really up to them to find the resources to fund extra parking spaces.
“There is simply too many staff and cars for the amount of spaces available.”
A North Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: “We are working with Gartcosh community council and the local owner/occupiers to address the problem.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “The Scottish crime campus management board are actively looking at the issue of car parking at the campus.”
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