Campaign to stop 70% parking price hike in Partick is launched
A CAMPAIGN group has been set up to oppose a 70 per cent price hike in resident parking in Partick.
Jennifer Douglas is galvanising furious motorists in the area who claim the rise is penalising residents who rely on their cars.
While Glasgow City Council argues it is the first price hike in 13 years, campaigners say the existing charge was only introduced in Partick in 2017 with the new rate too steep a rise.
On August 20, the cost of an annual permit will rise from £ 50 to £ 85 or quarterly, from £ 15 to £ 23.75.
Ms Douglas, who founded Oppose The Increased Parking Charges In Partick, Dowanhill and Yorkhill, said: “The council’s justification is that there had been no increase since 2005, which is fair enough, but the charges only got introduced in Partick last year.
“Maybe they could have introduced a price rise for other places and not Partick. There should have been more analysis on it.
“I would like to see the council rethink what they have done or even reduce the inc rease in line with inflation.”
Motorists visiting the area will also have to pay to park during chargeable hours.
It will now cost 20p per 15 minutes for up to an hour and 4 0 p p er 15 minut e s thereafter.
Before the changes, the costs were limited to 20p for the first 30 minutes then 20p for every 10 minut e s thereafter.
Businesses have been given relief under plans as their permits will be reduced from £ 700 a year to £ 650.
Another resident, Alina Rennie, added: “This scheme was initially introduced to stop commuters parking in the area and it’s turned into a sly back door way into fleecing residents.”
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “This measure was agreed at a meeting of the Full Council as part of the process to set our annual budget.
“Residents parking permits offer significant benefits to local communities.
“Having a permit scheme in place reduces the amount of commuters parking on local streets, helping to ensure residents can park as close as possible to their own homes.
“The permits increase the travel options for residents, who can leave their cars at home and travel to work by alternative means if they wish.
“Fewer parked cars also means greater road safety, particularly for pedestrians, and ease of access to streets for vehicles from the emergency and cleansing services.”