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The National
3 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Mulraney demands a halt to 'unacceptable' rising pitch costs
Mulraney hosted senior representatives from COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) at Hampden on Thursday where he pressed home the need to ensure that football remains affordable and accessible for all. (Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group / SFA) He presented a petition - started by Plains AFC after they had been quoted £288 for a two-hour let in North Lanarkshire - that has now gained almost 3500 signatures and provoked responses from all over the country, aimed at highlighting the widespread financial barriers grassroots clubs face just to find somewhere to play and train. The former Alloa Athletic chairman has made the improvement and proliferation of accessible football facilities the mission of the game's governing body during his presidency, and he is determined to find a solution to the problem of rising pitch hire costs. 'Stories like the one outlined by Plains Amateur FC are becoming all-too-commonplace in local authorities across Scotland,' Mulraney told Herald Sport. "It is unacceptable and is the reason I made improving facilities, and access to them, the number one priority for the association. 'Through our campaign, Pitching In, we have already raised £13.6m of our £50m target in the first six months of it going live - including Scottish FA profits and DCMS funding. That money will be invested in upgrading facilities in poor condition, laying pitches where the need is greatest, and ensuring changing rooms are welcoming and accessible to all, including girls, women and para footballers. (Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group / SFA) 'In addition, we need to represent our grassroots constituency and look at new ways to ensure boys and girls players of all ages and abilities can play football and are not priced out of our national game. 'In that regard, following my comments at the start of the year on the subject, only [on Thursday] we held a frank, open and constructive meeting with senior officers from COSLA in my office. 'My intention is to break this cycle and work innovatively - and quickly - to address the issue of people being priced out of the public football estate.'
Daily Record
09-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Council staff in Dumfries and Galloway accept new pay offer for next two years
Unions claim the deal agreed by workers will be worth four per cent this year and a further 3.5 per cent this year. Council staff in Dumfries and Galloway have accepted a new pay offer. Unions claim the deal agreed by workers will be worth four per cent this year and a further 3.5 per cent this year. Thw two-year pay offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has been accepted by members of Unison. Unison Scotland local government committee chair, Suzanne Gens, said: 'It gives local government workers some financial security now they know their pay will be higher than inflation over the next couple of years. 'This has only been achieved because of the determination of council workers to demand better.' Unite and GMB Scotland are still consulting members on whether to accepte the other. A COSLA spokesperson said: 'I'm pleased that Unison members have voted to accept the two-year pay offer from COSLA. The offer is worth four per cent in year one which will be backdated to 1st April 2025, and a further 3.5 per cent increase in year two from April 1, 2026. 'In putting forward this strong, two-year offer council leaders recognise the value our employees in Scotland's councils deliver every day. 'We know that the two other unions – Unite and GMB – have still to complete the balloting of members. If they are in favour of acceptance councils will be able to take forward work to get the pay increase of 7.64 per cent over the two-year period into the pockets of our workforce.' Last year's pay dispute saw council staff in Perth and Kinross – the constituency of First Minister John Swinney - go on strike, with waste workers also threatening to down tools, before it was eventually resolved in November. Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison said: 'Although the Scottish Government has no formal role in local government pay negotiations, we recognise the importance of an agreement being reached by Cosla – as the employer – and trade unions. 'I would urge members of Unite and GMB to join Unison members in recognising the clear benefit of this offer so that all workers can get the pay they deserve without delay.'
Scottish Sun
02-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Fresh twist in plans for Glasgow congestion charge and Clyde Tunnel toll revealed
People who don't live in Glasgow would be hit with the fees Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRIVERS could be hit with Clyde Tunnel toll and congestion charges under bombshell new plans being eyed by Glasgow City Council. People who don't live in the city would be slapped with the fees – while locals could be spared – in a controversial bid to slash car use and boost greener travel. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Drivers could be hit with Clyde Tunnel toll and congestion charges Credit: John Gunion - The Sun Glasgow The idea, backed by Transport Scotland, would see Glasgow take the wheel as a 'leading city' in a nationwide push to get drivers out of their motors. The legal wheels on the plans won't start turning until after next May's Holyrood elections due to regulatory checks having to be made. Councillor Angus Millar insisted there are 'no specific proposals' on the table for now – but admitted the city is 'interested' in tolls for non-residents using the Clyde Tunnel or entering the city. He said: 'The council has no specific proposals to introduce any road user charging in Glasgow. "However members will be aware that the council has repeatedly stated its interest in further exploring possibilities around a boundary congestion charge and potential tolling at the Clyde Tunnel – both with exemptions for Glasgow residents.' The SNP councillor, who's in charge of transport and climate, added that Glasgow is in talks with Transport Scotland and COSLA about how to legally bring in such charges. 'Council officers continue to engage with Transport Scotland and Cosla particularly in relation to national commitments to reduce car vehicle mileage and the potential roll out of road user charging as a travel demand management tool. 'Transport Scotland has expressed interest in Glasgow and Edinburgh taking a lead role in exploring road user charging and we anticipate further discussions with City of Edinburgh Council in establishing their interest.' Cllr Millar said the Scottish Government is now launching a legal and regulatory review to clear the way for councils to roll out the controversial charges. He added: 'We welcome the recent commitment from Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government to undertake legislative and regulatory review to establish how the process can be clarified for local authorities to take forward and this is a matter I have engaged with officials and other councils on via COSLA.' Scotland's Vehicle Ban in LEZs: Controversy Piles Up He added: 'We will engage in the coming legislative review to ensure Glasgow is well positioned to consider any developments.' The plans were welcomed by Scottish Green councillor Blair Anderson, who claimed the scheme would help fund a 'publicly owned, reliable and free' bus system. He said: "The only way we can meet our climate targets is moving people from cars to public transport.' He added: 'A road user charging scheme would give us the money to make Glasgow's buses publicly owned, reliable, fast and free.'
Daily Record
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Glasgow pushes forward with plan for Clyde Tunnel tolls for drivers who don't live in city
Critics of the plan have branded it a "tunnel tax" and claimed it would be unfair on drivers from across the west of Scotland. Glasgow is pushing forward with a controversial plan to charge drivers who don't live in the city to use the Clyde Tunnel. Council chiefs are frustrated the cash-strapped local authority has to pay for the upkeep of the underwater crossing as it is not classed as being part of the national road network. The tunnel is not a designated A road which means Transport Scotland has no responsibility for its management. Councillors have now been told a regulatory check must be carried out before a toll scheme for non-city residents can be introduced - but that's unlikely to be completed before the next Scottish Parliament election in May. Glasgow is run by a minority SNP administration with support from the Scottish Greens. But there is unhappiness among Nationalists in the city at Holyrood's refusal to help with the rising cost of maintaining the tunnel. Funding received for the tunnel's operation and maintenance is the same amount per kilometre as for a standard stretch of road, which it has been estimated leads to an annual shortfall of around £820,000. Councillor Angus Millar told a recent full council meeting: "The council has no specific proposals to introduce any road user charging in Glasgow. "However, members will be aware that the council has repeatedly stated its interest in further exploring possibilities around a boundary congestion charge and potential tolling at the Clyde Tunnel – both with exemptions for Glasgow residents." The council's transport convenor added: "Council officers continue to engage with Transport Scotland and COSLA, particularly in relation to national commitments to reduce car vehicle mileage and the potential roll out of road user charging as a travel demand management tool. "Transport Scotland has expressed interest in Glasgow and Edinburgh taking a lead role in exploring road user charging and we anticipate further discussions with City of Edinburgh Council in establishing their interest." The SNP councillor continued: 'We welcome the recent commitment from Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government to undertake legislative and regulatory review to establish how the process can be clarified for local authorities to take forward and this is a matter I have engaged with officials and other councils on via COSLA.' He added: 'We will engage in the coming legislative review to ensure Glasgow is well positioned to consider any developments.' Councillor Ricky Bell previously told the Record he wanted the Scottish Government "to adopt the tunnel into their national portfolio". The City Treasurer said: "The Clyde Tunnel is a piece of national infrastructure in every sense, other than how it is paid for. It is maintained by Glasgow's council taxpayers – regardless of whether they can even drive, let alone use the tunnel. "Despite our efforts to lobby the Scottish Government to adopt the tunnel into their national portfolio, we have been unsuccessful so far. Consequently, we must explore all possible funding options to maintain the services relied upon by hundreds of thousands of Glaswegians and others." But critics of the idea have branded it a "tunnel tax" and claimed it would be unfair on drivers from across the west of Scotland.
STV News
01-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
Council considering Clyde Tunnel toll and congestion charge
Glasgow is considering bringing in a driver congestion charge and Clyde Tunnel toll as Transport Scotland suggests the city could take a 'leading role' in looking at a new scheme. The local authority has expressed interest in rolling out driver charges that would only apply to people who don't live in the city. But a regulatory check is to be carried out before councils can introduce the system – and that is not likely to happen until after next year's Scottish Parliament elections in May, a meeting heard. Councillor Angus Millar told last week's full council meeting: 'The council has no specific proposals to introduce any road user charging in Glasgow. 'However, members will be aware that the council has repeatedly stated its interest in further exploring possibilities around a boundary congestion charge and potential tolling at the Clyde Tunnel – both with exemptions for Glasgow residents.' The convenor for climate, Glasgow Green Deal, transport and city centre recovery added: 'Council officers continue to engage with Transport Scotland and COSLA, particularly in relation to national commitments to reduce car vehicle mileage and the potential roll out of road user charging as a travel demand management tool. 'Transport Scotland has expressed interest in Glasgow and Edinburgh taking a lead role in exploring road user charging and we anticipate further discussions with City of Edinburgh Council in establishing their interest.' Explaining how legal details are to be firmed up, the SNP councillor said: 'We welcome the recent commitment from Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government to undertake legislative and regulatory review to establish how the process can be clarified for local authorities to take forward and this is a matter I have engaged with officials and other councils on via COSLA.' He added: 'We will engage in the coming legislative review to ensure Glasgow is well positioned to consider any developments.' His comments came after Scottish Green councillor Blair Anderson asked for an 'update on proposals for road user charging in the city following the Scottish Government's recent commitment to empower councils to introduce schemes.' Welcoming the continued interest in the scheme, Councillor Anderson said the 'only way we can meet our climate targets is moving people from cars to public transport.' He added: 'A road user charging scheme would give us the money to make Glasgow's buses publicly owned, reliable, fast and free.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
