Requests from private companies to use sections of Aberdeen’s park and ride sites as overflow parking areas have been turned down by city council officials.
Companies had approached the local authority asking for access to the facilities for staff and to operate shuttle buses to nearby office buildings.
But in a report to next week’s enterprise, strategic planning and infrastructure committee meeting, Will Hekelaar, Aberdeen’s planner (transport strategy and programmes), said the proposals have been “resisted”.
He adds: “In many cases that have arisen, such proposals will do little to reduce congestion as the proposed journey from the park and ride site to the final destination constitutes a very small part of the overall journey undertaken by users and does not normally occur on the most congested part of the road network.”
Mr Hekelaar cites the example of the Kingswells park and ride site, which lies next to the Prime Four business park.
He said the proposals to allow private firms to use the car parks would simply encourage more car usage over other alternative forms of transport.
Mr Hekelaar adds: “There is also a concern that park and ride sites would simply become overspill car parks for neighbouring offices.
“If one employer is permitted to use the site in this way, it would be impossible not to offer this facility to all workplaces.”
It was also considered that there may be opposition to allowing private firms to benefit from the use of sites that were paid for using public money.
The authority’s public transport unit, however, may consider allowing companies to use the sites in future if they are based “some distance” from the park and ride.
The report will be discussed by the enterprise, strategic planning and infrastructure committee on Tuesday, June 3.