MORE than 2,000 people have signed a petition urging Aberdeen Council to grant hospital staff permanent free access to a multistorey car park’s upper floors.

Staff access to 700 spaces in the ARI car park has been under review by NHS Grampian since last summer but requires a change to revised planning permission.

Unison representatives handed the petition to NHS Grampian chair Alison Evison at a meeting today to discuss the proposals, which come amid a consultation over council budget cuts.  

The proposals include closing park & ride sites, reducing streetlights by 50 per cent and removing a bus service that stops outside the ARI.

Unison warned female staff have expressed fears of walking long distances in the winter dark to alternative parking, and some with childcare responsibilities are considering leaving and getting jobs elsewhere.

Its Grampian health branch acting secretary Liz Grant said: “The bus service isn’t great and health workers have to travel in from all over Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.”

The council was contacted for comment.