Latest news with #JamieMcGuire
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Row breaks out after Reform politician blasts LEZ schemes
Councillor Jamie McGuire labelled the schemes as 'little more than cash cows' and said the local authority 'must have no part in this' in a blistering statement. But the elected member for Renfrew North and Braehead has been accused of 'hyperbolic word salad' on an issue that was settled almost two years ago. In September 2023, the SNP administration confirmed it was not considering the introduction of an LEZ in Paisley or any other part of Renfrewshire at a full council meeting. Councillor McGuire, who defected from Labour to Nigel Farage's Reform in June, said: 'Scotland's four main cities already have LEZs in place and their experience should be a warning. 'These schemes have acted as little more than cash cows, generating income for councils while hitting those who can least afford it. Councillor Jamie McGuire (Image: Newsquest) 'People on the lowest incomes, who are far more likely to drive older vehicles, have been penalised simply for trying to get to work, take their children to school or care for relatives. 'Renfrewshire must have no part in this. A congestion charge or LEZ in our towns would be a hammer blow to local households and businesses. 'We are a working community that depends on accessible, affordable transport. 'Many residents travel across Renfrewshire for work, education, and caring responsibilities, while small enterprises rely heavily on vans and cars to serve customers and move goods. 'Imposing extra charges on them is not just unreasonable, it risks undermining our local economy and making it harder for people to live and work here.' He added: 'The SNP-led Renfrewshire Council must act now to rule out – clearly, unequivocally and permanently – ever introducing either a congestion charge or a low emission zone in our area. Councillor Jim Paterson (Image: Newsquest) 'Residents deserve certainty, not the constant threat of new charges hanging over them.' Councillor Jim Paterson, SNP convener of the planning and climate change policy board, claimed Councillor McGuire was 'trying to raise his profile' with the comments. The elected member for Renfrew South and Gallowhill said: 'Another day, another fabricated outrage from Councillor McGuire. 'The position of the SNP administration and indeed Councillor McGuire on this issue was settled in 2023 when the Conservative group called on the council to rule out establishing any form of LEZ in Paisley and wider Renfrewshire for the duration of this council term. 'The SNP position along with a Labour amendment was agreed then by the vast majority of councillors which stated that the council would not consider the introduction of a low emission zone (LEZ/ULEZ) in Paisley or any other parts of Renfrewshire. That position remains unchanged. 'Councillor McGuire, like his newfound political hero Nigel Farage, may like to trade in misinformation but to imply that there has been any change to the agreed position of 2023 is just nonsense and to suggest there is a 'constant fear' hanging over residents is just hyperbolic word salad from a councillor desperately trying to raise his profile to secure the top spot in his party's internal list for Holyrood 2026.'
Daily Record
12-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
'Hyperbolic word salad': Row breaks out as Reform UK politician urges Scots council to rule out low emission zone
Councillor Jamie McGuire labelled the schemes in four Scottish cities as "little more than cash cows" in a blistering statement. A row has broken out after a Reform UK politician urged Renfrewshire Council to rule out ever introducing congestion charges or a low emission zone (LEZ). Councillor Jamie McGuire labelled the schemes as "little more than cash cows" and said the local authority "must have no part in this" in a blistering statement. But the elected member for Renfrew North and Braehead has been accused of "hyperbolic word salad" on an issue that was settled almost two years ago. In September 2023, the SNP administration confirmed it was not considering the introduction of an LEZ in Paisley or any other part of Renfrewshire at a full council meeting. Councillor McGuire, who defected from Labour to Nigel Farage's Reform in June, said: "Scotland's four main cities already have LEZs in place and their experience should be a warning. "These schemes have acted as little more than cash cows, generating income for councils while hitting those who can least afford it. "People on the lowest incomes, who are far more likely to drive older vehicles, have been penalised simply for trying to get to work, take their children to school or care for relatives. "Renfrewshire must have no part in this. A congestion charge or LEZ in our towns would be a hammer blow to local households and businesses. We are a working community that depends on accessible, affordable transport. "Many residents travel across Renfrewshire for work, education, and caring responsibilities, while small enterprises rely heavily on vans and cars to serve customers and move goods. "Imposing extra charges on them is not just unreasonable, it risks undermining our local economy and making it harder for people to live and work here." He added: "The SNP-led Renfrewshire Council must act now to rule out – clearly, unequivocally and permanently – ever introducing either a congestion charge or a low emission zone in our area. "Residents deserve certainty, not the constant threat of new charges hanging over them." Councillor Jim Paterson, SNP convener of the planning and climate change policy board, claimed Councillor McGuire was "trying to raise his profile" with the comments. The elected member for Renfrew South and Gallowhill said: "Another day, another fabricated outrage from Councillor McGuire. "The position of the SNP administration and indeed Councillor McGuire on this issue was settled in 2023 when the Conservative group called on the council to rule out establishing any form of LEZ in Paisley and wider Renfrewshire for the duration of this council term. "The SNP position along with a Labour amendment was agreed then by the vast majority of councillors which stated that the council would not consider the introduction of a low emission zone (LEZ/ULEZ) in Paisley or any other parts of Renfrewshire. That position remains unchanged. "Councillor McGuire, like his newfound political hero Nigel Farage, may like to trade in misinformation but to imply that there has been any change to the agreed position of 2023 is just nonsense and to suggest there is a 'constant fear' hanging over residents is just hyperbolic word salad from a councillor desperately trying to raise his profile to secure the top spot in his party's internal list for Holyrood 2026."
Glasgow Times
07-08-2025
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Update provided on parking restrictions on Renfrew street
Councillor Jamie McGuire, who represents Renfrew North and Braehead, provided the update on social media, saying constituents have "raised concerns about parking issues in and around Brown Street". Renfrewshire Council has confirmed they are reviewing the current restrictions and may include changes in an upcoming Traffic Regulation Order. READ MORE: Teen caused £125k of fire damage to luxury Glasgow flats This will go through a legal process, including a public consultation, before being decided by the Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board. The process is expected to be completed by next summer at the latest. If approved, new road markings and signs will then be installed.
Daily Record
14-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Renfrewshire councillor calls for parking charges to be scrapped in Paisley town centre
Jamie McGuire has branded the use of parking charges as "anti-business" and "anti-growth" which is harming the local economy Real concerns about the future of Paisley town centre have been raised with calls to scrap 'anti-growth and anti-business' parking charges. Renfrewshire Council implemented new charges for on and off-street parking in the town centre in February 2024 following several years of the Free at Three initiative. Introduced in 2021, the scheme offered visitors free parking for up to three hours in six town centre car parks. Councillor Jamie McGuire is the latest to add his voice to a long-running campaign to reinstate the popular parking policy. Explaining the current charge penalises those who want to 'shop local', councillor McGuire told the Paisley Daily Express: 'The council says it wants to support Paisley, but its actions say otherwise. 'Millions are being spent on projects like the museum to bring people in — yet parking charges are pushing them away. It's a policy contradiction that makes no sense. 'If we're serious about supporting our high streets, then scrapping these charges is a good place to start.' The Renfrew North and Braehead representative – who recently defected to Reform UK – said while Paisley is not in his ward, he is concerned about the future of Scotland's biggest town. He added: 'I'm genuinely worried about the future of Paisley town centre. Local businesses and workers have told me how damaging these charges are. It's not just shop owners seeing fewer customers — it's their staff being punished too, having to pay simply to park their car to go to work. 'And this shouldn't stop with Paisley. The council should rule out any future parking charges anywhere in Renfrewshire. Our communities need a pro-growth, pro-business approach.' Paisley First, with the support of Neil Bibby MSP and Labour councillors, fought to retain Free for Three for the longer-term, arguing the evidence pointed to a boost for the local economy. A survey, conducted by the town centre consortium, found that Free for Three was a huge draw for customers. More than 90 per cent of respondents said the initiative had encouraged them to visit Paisley more often. Council leader Iain Nicolson refuted however claims the new parking approach was harming business, stating: 'Our car parking strategy is designed to ensure we can continue to provide a modernised parking service and help maximise the number of people able to visit local businesses and access town centre services and attractions. 'It was created after engagement with local business groups and has significantly increased the number of free parking spaces across the town to more than double previously available, with all 20 car parks and on-street parking bays in Paisley offering one hour of free parking to support people visiting businesses.' Cllr Nicolson said the free parking allowed people to use the available spaces as a 'park and ride facility' for Paisley Gilmour Street Station and said the new approach ensured a turnover of spaces throughout the day.
Daily Record
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Row over Renfrewshire Council's garden waste permit as Reform UK councillor hits out at scheme
Jamie McGuire, who recently defected to Nigel Farage's party, criticised the charge which was first rolled out in July 2023. A war of words has broken out over Renfrewshire Council's garden waste permit after a Reform UK politician branded the scheme "as unfair and illogical as ever". Councillor Jamie McGuire, who defected from Labour to Nigel Farage's party earlier this month, has hit out at the charge which was first rolled out in July 2023. The annual fee for the service rose from £40 to £47 for 2025/26 and will increase further to £52 in 2026/27 and £57 in 2027/28 after a pricing strategy was voted through in January. Councillor McGuire, who represents Renfrew North and Braehead, blasted the policy as "nonsense" and a "stealth tax" as he took aim at the SNP administration. He said: "The £47 charge for garden waste collection isn't new but it remains as unfair and illogical as ever. "Introduced by the SNP-led administration in Renfrewshire, this policy continues to hit ordinary residents in the pocket for using the same brown bin they've always had. "Let's be clear, this is not a new or improved service. It's the same bin, the same lorry, the same route but now, if it contains garden waste without a paid permit, it won't be collected. "Food waste? No problem. Grass cuttings? £47, please. It's nonsense. This charge is yet another example of how out of touch the SNP administration has become. "Instead of making life easier for hard-working families, they've chosen to impose a stealth tax on people who take pride in their gardens and their communities. "At a time when households are struggling with rising costs, this is the last thing people need. It punishes responsibility and risks encouraging fly-tipping – problems that will cost the council more to deal with in the long run." Unlike food waste, which people can continue to present on its own in brown bins for uplift free of charge, the collection of garden waste is not a statutory service and, therefore, not one the council is required to provide. However, an exemption on payment is offered to householders entitled to full or severe mental impairment council tax reduction. Responding to Councillor McGuire, SNP council leader Iain Nicolson, who represents Erskine and Inchinnan, said: "The garden waste permit scheme has been in operation now for two years and has proven to be popular with the uptake in permits maintaining at a steady level. "The garden waste permit is an optional choice for those who own gardens if they wish us to collect their garden waste. "There are alternative options which include taking the waste to one of our civic amenity sites or reusing and recycling within gardens as compost or mulch. "It is not a statutory obligation on the council to provide this service but we continue to offer it as a service on the same principle of bulk waste collections which is also an optional choice. "Councillor McGuire has been known to misunderstand what garden waste is and why we introduced a small annual fee. The reason for the fee is the cost of disposal of the waste which the council must pay an external contractor to treat and dispose of. "These costs are not within the control of the council. Faced with a choice between a small service fee for some services or we use our resources to support the most vulnerable, we chose to support our most vulnerable unlike Reform which are about millionaires, privatising our health services and reducing hard-won workplace rights and benefits."
