Latest news with #WorkplaceParkingLicensing
The Herald Scotland
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow councillors to advance 'congestion charge' plans
Charges would be levied on drivers entering the city's boundaries, while Glasgow residents would be exempt from the fee. And users of the Clyde Tunnel could be hit with an additional road tax. However, plans to implement a workplace parking charge, which would have raised £8m a year, have been shelved. The Glasgow LEZ was implemented in June 2023, and has been one of several controversial traffic restrictions in recent a report to councillors, Executive Director of Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability George Gillespie wrote: 'While the Council does not intend to progress a Workplace Parking Licensing scheme at this time, officers will now direct resources to the exploration of alternative potential initiatives utilising local road user charging powers. 'While a WPL scheme has the potential to encourage modal shift and generate relatively modest revenues to support sustainable transport interventions, it is considered that alternative options such as initiatives utilising local road user charging powers may prove more impactful in achieving these aims.' Councillors will be asked to note the findings of the report at a meeting next week. SNP councillor Ricky Bell, who serves as city treasurer, previously expressed support for a congestion charge. He said: 'We need to have solutions that work for Glasgow, and things like a tourist tax, congestion charging, tolling on the tunnel are the big ones that would make quite a difference to the amount of money we get.' In July, city councillors expressed interest in rolling out the tariff. Greens councillor Blair Anderson told a full council meeting: 'The only way we can meet our climate targets is moving people from cars to public transport. 'A road user charging scheme would give us the money to make Glasgow's buses publicly owned, reliable, fast and free.' Meanwhile, a 5% tourist tax, which was approved by councillors in June, will be implemented from January 2027. Visitors to the city will be charged an extra £4.83 per night in a bid to raise £16m in fresh capital each year. Drivers on the M8 would be charged upon crossing the city's boundaries. (Image: Getty Images) The Federation of Small Businesses Scotland has urged the council to proceed with 'caution'. Hisashi Kuboyama, the group's West of Scotland Development Manager, said: 'The city's post-Covid recovery has been painfully slow, and businesses' confidence isn't back up yet. The council needs to ensure the impact on local businesses is fully considered as it develops policy proposals if they want to bring the city centre back to where it was. 'We welcome the city council's decision to drop the idea of a workplace parking charge. That would have placed an extra burden on small businesses who need vehicles to carry out their work 'Similarly, we would urge extreme caution when it comes to considering a congestion charge for driving into the city or a toll on the Clyde Tunnel.' Reform Councillor Thomas Kerr also hit out at the proposals yesterday, posting to X: 'The SNP's plan in Glasgow? Tax, tax, tax. 'This congestion charge will strangle business, turn off visitors and kill investment in our city. These chancers need to go before their damage is irreversible.' A potential congestion charge has been mooted for years. In 2023, Katy Loudon of the SNP was left red-faced after her colleagues in Glasgow City Chambers raised the issue amidst a heated by-election in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West parliamentary constituency. At the time, a campaign source told The Herald: 'We're in a real scrap here and our prospects are not being helped by [Cllr Bell] telling our voters that under the SNP they'll have to pay an extra £5 a day or whatever to get into their work. It's madness. It does our chances here no good.' Loudon was subsequently routed in the contest against Labour's Michael Shanks, by a vote of 58.6% to 27.6%. Read more: Russell Findlay calls for 'pause' on new energy projects in Highlands Highland Broadband secures £50m in bid to connect 150 towns and villages 'A dire predicament': Union Street closures as 23% of units lie empty A congestion charge was implemented in London in 2003. Motorists pay £15 each day to travel within Central London. New York City followed suit in January this year, charging drivers $15 during peak driving times. Congestion pricing has been praised for reducing the amount of car traffic and carbon emissions in city centres, as well as cutting down on noise pollution. However, critics have said the tariff will cut into the profits of local businesses.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Update on plan for congestion charge on motorists in Glasgow
This month, councillors are being asked to approve recommendations that will abandon plans to bring in a workplace parking tax, that would have raised more than £8million pounds a year. Instead, officials believe other measures to charge motorists will be more effective, raising more money and having a greater impact on congestion. READ NEXT:Council asked to reconsider stance on female only private hire service Plans being looked at include a congestion charge imposed on people coming into the city from other areas. It would apply to residents in neighbouring areas like East and West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, North and South Lanarkshire, as well as anywhere else in Scotland. Charges would be imposed on drivers entering the city boundaries, but Glasgow residents would be exempt. In a report to councillors, George Gillespie, director of said: 'While the Council does not intend to progress a Workplace Parking Licensing scheme at this time, officers will now direct resources to the exploration of alternative potential initiatives utilising local road user charging powers.' The scheme to charge people £500 a year for a parking space at work was investigated but was decided against. The council said there was limited appetite for it among the public and leading organisations in the business community were opposed. Mr Gillespie added: 'While a WPL scheme has the potential to encourage modal shift and generate relatively modest revenues to support sustainable transport interventions, it is considered that alternative options such as initiatives utilising local road user charging powers may prove more impactful in achieving these aims. ' READ NEXT:I tried out a new Glasgow cycle lane but one thing is confusing A plan to charge motorists to use the Clyde Tunnel will also be looked at. While many journeys that use the Clyde Tunnel either start or end outside the city, it is Glasgow City Council that is responsible for maintenance costs as it is not considered a national trunk road, unlike motorways. The plan for the tunnel has been mentioned before to only apply to users from outside the city. It could mean someone travelling from East Dunbartonshire, for example, could be charged to enter the city at the boundary and again if they use the Clyde Tunnel. Ricky Bell, City Treasurer, has been a supporter of the council raising cash through schemes like a congestion charge and visitor levy. Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, however, which opposed the workplace parking levy has warned it could be counter productive and deter people from coming to the city.
