Douglas Council has voted to reject an appeal for four dedicated parking spaces outside Snaefell Surgery in Anagh Coar for use by medical staff.

The request would’ve also introduced a dedicated ambulance bay in one of the four spaces after correspondence from the medical centre said that ambulances ’had had great difficulty in attending the surgery’.

Doctors working at the practice also complained that it is often difficult for medical staff who have been attending to patients away from the practice to find a parking space when they return from visits.

It was noted in the council that the car park in question is a busy one as it shared by users of the Spar shop, the pharmacist, the take away and the butchers shop but it is quieter in the evening, indicating it is users of these businesses that use the car park.

The environmental services committee noted it would require a new car park order to introduce disc zone parking and this was not felt to be beneficial to the other businesses at Anagh Coar.

The committee also doubted the frequency at which an ambulance would be needed by the surgery and if this could justify a dedicated space.

While the council rejected the request for reserved parking spaces for doctors, it said it would monitor current usage of the car park and whether current time restrictions were being violated.