SNP speak out in row over Glasgow congestion charge
It has come up against opposition with the Labour Group opposed, the Chamber of Commerce speaking against it, and Monica Lennon, a Central Scotland Labour MSP, stating it would discriminate against people who need to use services in Glasgow like hospitals and higher education.
READ NEXT:Business leaders and MSP hit out at congestion charge plan
The SNP group, which is in charge of the council, said it is right to look at raising a charge but that it would be years before it can be implemented.
A Glasgow SNP Group spokesperson said: 'Glasgow City Council has no specific proposals to introduce a congestion charging scheme any time in the near future as Monica Lennon should be aware.
'It is of course right that the council should continue to explore all future opportunities to tackle congestion and raise revenues that can both improve our road network and our city's public transport offer.
'But any charging initiative, from which we would seek to exempt Glasgow residents, remains at an exploratory stage and is several years away.'
After a discussion at a council committee, Johnny Carson, Labour group deputy leader, said 'These plans are wrong for our city.
'The council should be focused on fixing our expensive, unreliable and disjointed public transport system and securing the fair funding Glasgow deserves from the Scottish Government.'
He said the Scottish Government has had an extra £5.1 billion from the Labour Government at Westminster.
The SNP, however, said other parts of the UK have had better deals.
READ NEXT:Opposition to plans for a Glasgow congestion charge on drivers revealed
On the need to raise revenue, the SNP councillors suggested the UK Labour government could look at providing Glasgow with additional funding for public transport projects.
The group spokesperson said: 'If Monica Lennon feels so strongly about improving public transport in the Glasgow city region, she should publicly demand her Labour bosses at Westminster award us the same transport funding packages that have been made available to our comparator city regions in England.'
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