Business groups in call to scrap changes

BUSINESS leaders have asked the council to reconsider the plans to extend parking charges to 10pm across the city.

The Glasgow Times revealed the SNP administration at the City Chambers has put on hold the proposal to extend it to 10pm in the city centre.

However, the plan for the other zones in mainly, but not exclusively, residential areas will still go ahead.

A letter signed by more than a dozen business groups and traders has been sent to council leader Susan Aitken outlining their concerns. They are asking for the standardisation across all zones to 10pm to be scrapped completely.

The change will not come into effect until at least 2025 but the businesses fear it will lead to loss of trade and loss of jobs.

The groups which include Federation of Small Businesses ( FSB), the Scottish Hospitality Group ( SHG), Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Unite Hospitality said the plans will be detrimental to business.

The letter states: “Virtually all businesses and many workers in the city fear its potential adverse effects, from diminished turnover to challenges in staff retention and recruitment.

“More alarmingly, it poses a significant threat to hundreds of jobs in bars, restaurants, theatres, and nightclubs throughout the city, potentially leading to the closure of numerous otherwise viable enterprises. The ripple effect could jeopardise the livelihoods of the supply chains of these businesses as well.

“We simply cannot let this happen.

We stand ready to work with the city administration in supporting Glasgow’s business community and helping make the city thrive and flourish.”

The council said the measures outside the city centre are to prioritise parking for residents. A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “The proposed changes to onstreet pay and display hours in parking zones require public consultation and will take time to implement.

“No changes on pay and display hours will take effect until 2025 at the earliest.

“But we have taken on board initial feedback from the city centre hospitality sector and we will review the proposal for the city centre. The longstanding approach on parking controls has been to prioritise parking for residents in the city’s 22 parking zones.”