Plans for a new 127-space car park in St Albans are set to be decided at a planning meeting next week. 

The proposals have been submitted by West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and would see a temporary car park created at Oysterfields Open Space.

The car park would provide new access to and from St Albans City Hospital, increasing the number of spaces from just seven to 127 for the next five years.

The creation of the site would allow employees at the hospital to access free parking.

However, proposals have been met by objections from 15 people, with the opposition coming for a variety of reasons.

Some objectors focus their complaints on fears that the car park will remain at the site permanently, while others suggest that it will take many more years to return the site to its former state.

Others argue that the plans are harmful because they are of the view that the council should not be promoting the use of cars in the midst of a climate crisis.

Residents have also claimed that the loss of the current open space would be detrimental to children who play at the site and use it for exercise.

There were also objections on environmental grounds, with the suggestion that the car park will be a "nuisance" for neighbours and create noise, light and air pollution.

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The plans will be discussed and voted on Monday (August 5) at a meeting of St Albans City and District Council's Development Management Committee.

Planning officers have recommended to grant the project approval, with conditions that include an investment of £102,000 towards improvements to the play area at Oysterfields Open Space.