by Catriona Stewart

RESIDENTS fear traffic gridlock if plans to permanently expand capacity at Scotstoun Stadium go ahead.

Temporary stands have upped spectator numbers to 7,350 at the home of Glasgow Warriors – who moved to the ground in the 2012/1013 season.

Now Glasgow Life, which runs the stadium, has submitted a planning application to made the temporary stands a full-time fixture.

But locals say the residential area cannot cope with the increased amount of traffic brought by rugby matches.

Scotstoun Community Council said sports fans park in and across driveways, double park and clog up streets.

They also claim taxis and minibuses park illegally – including on top of a mini roundabout – and dangerously.

June Mitchell, chairwoman of the community council, told our sister paper the Evening Times: “When it was under 5,000 fans attending games there were some problems and the problems that residents were throwing up were mostly related to traffic problems.

“But in the last couple of years since spectator numbers are rising, footfall has increased and so now we have on a Friday evening really quite serious traffic management and road safety issues when people are coming out on to Danes Drive.”

The community council has had meetings with residents, Glasgow Life, Glasgow Warriors and Glasgow City Council.

They say Glasgow Warriors has been sympathetic to the issues caused by traffic and the club has launched a campaign, Always A Warrior, to urge fans to travel on public transport.

The planning application is for three additional permanent spectator stands at Scotstoun Stadium and is open for public comment until Friday, April 21.

Glasgow Life said it has secured an agreement with ScotRail to include more Scotstounhill stops on trains to and from Glasgow Central station.

It has introduced more stewards on match days; plans for extra bicycle parking; securing a nearby car park on match days for Glasgow Club members to avoid on-street parking.

It said there are also steps being taken to form an additional entrance to the northwest area of the stadium to alleviate pedestrian congestion on Danes Drive.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow Life said: We will continue to consult with and listen to concerns raised by Scotstoun residents and community councils throughout the planning process and thereafter.”