Sir Ian Wood has welcomed progress to a new north-east hospital car park, made possible by a £10million donation by his family’s charity.
The oil tycoon also paid tribute to patients, visitors and staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) for their patience whilst the construction of the multi-storey gets underway at Foresterhill.
The £10.73million facility will be able to accommodate 1,000 vehicles once completed.
The development has been funded by Sir Ian and Lady Helen Wood’s charity, the Wood Foundation, with the aim of resolving ARI’s parking crisis.
The hospital had been served by 748 spaces, despite receiving about 5,000 visits a day.
And last night Sir Ian, former chairman of Wood Group and head of economic development body Opportunity North East (ONE), said he was hopeful the work would be completed by September this year.
Speaking to the Press and Journal yesterday he added the project had been led by his wife, Lady Helen.
Sir Ian said it was a “good feeling” to know that the car park could make “lives an awful lot easier” for patients.
He added: “I think everyone is pleased. Present staff and visitors are having a particularly difficult time. But everyone is extremely positive about the car park.
“When you go to hospital it can be really a very anxious time, you have worries in mind, and you spend half an hour driving around in circles to find car parking. We thought it was a very sensitive issue.
“The hospital has done a really good job and have been very good to deal with. I think they are hoping to get it open in August or September this year.
“I think right now it looks like September, it is certainly moving ahead very quickly.
“It will be a really nice car park, good quality. Hopefully it will be a really good outcome.
“For the staff and the patients suffering extra hassle, I think it will be a big boost to them to see this big facility coming in.”
Paul Allen, NHS Grampian’s general manager for facilities and estates, said: “We are pleased to see work progressing on the new car park which is really starting to take shape.
“We would also be keen to take this opportunity to thank patients and staff for their understanding during works and also to thank the Wood Foundation for their generosity which has allowed us to provide this facility.
“We estimate the multi-storey car park should be completed and open by late summer.”
Work on the project was met with a mixed reaction by many, including hospital staff, due to a reduction in parking spaces on the existing site.
