Brian Whittle MSP has criticised the Scottish Government as it emerged that there will be no limit on what councils can charge for workplace parking permits.
SNP Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth revealed that the Scottish Government’s legislation will let local authorities set the rate of the charge imposed on businesses and staff for workplace parking at whatever level they chose.
Nottingham Council, who introduced the first workplace parking levy in 2012, currently charge £428 per space. In Scotland, SNP-run Glasgow City Council look set to be one of the earliest adopters of a parking levy and believe they could earn around £30 million from the charge.
South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle is worried this announcement could lead to councils opting to impose huge charges to try and balance their books. The Scottish Conservative MSP is urging local councils to think carefully before introducing the levy, which could hit workers and businesses in rural areas hardest.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“The introduction of any workplace parking levy is something that will be a real concern for business owners and staff alike, but this announcement will make a bad idea worse.
Councils facing a serious funding squeeze thanks to the SNP Government could see a parking levy as a way to get some quick money through the door but they risk harming the local economy in the process.
With many businesses using every available penny to recover from the pandemic, some may have no choice but to push the cost onto staff who use the spaces.
The levy is also potentially deeply unfair to those employees who live or work in a more rural area and can’t switch to public transport.
This is another example of the SNP-Green coalition pushing ahead with damaging, poorly thought out policies that could harm the economy and cost jobs.”
