Teachers may have to pay to park at work
Teachers could be slapped with an almost £1million bill under plans to introduce a car parking tax, it is claimed.
Ministers want to usher in a levy on workers pulling up at firms and offices.
NHS employees would be exempt – but classroom staff could be forced to cough up around £850,000.
Critics warn bosses are likely to pass the costs on to drivers.
MSP Maurice Golden has warned all motorists could be clobbered.
He said: “Businesses and workers have already voiced their opposition and now we learn taxpayers in Renfrewshire could be left with a big bill for their illthought-out plans.
“With teaching unions confirming plans to seek rebates, that could lead to a bill running to almost £850,000 for local taxpayers as teachers to regain the costs of this car parking tax.
“The SNP, backed up by their Green counterparts, are trying to push through plans to tax people for parking at work, without having thought of the consequences.
“The evidence is overwhelming against a car parking tax.”
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has agreed to allow councils to impose fees on work car parking spaces. He made the concession in a bid to secure the votes of Green MSPs in backing his latest budget.
The move would see firms with more than 10 parking spaces charged a fee for each.
It is modelled on a similar scheme introduced in Nottingham seven years ago.
Employers in the city must pay £415 – but can pass the cost onto staff.
Holyrood could usher in the levy at a rate of £500 per berth.
This would run the bill for teachers in Renfrewshire to £838,000.
For secondary school staff, the charge would stand at £379,500, with the price even higher for primary school workers at £405,000.
Teaching union EIS has blasted the proposal and insists it will cause financial hardship for their members.
A spokesman said: “Teachers arrive at school early and often leave late, frequently have to carry heavy books, plus public transport is often not a realistic option for travel to many schools.
“Teachers’ pay has been cut, in real terms, by more than 20 per cent over the past decade so introducing a parking charge could further increase the financial pressures on teachers.”
Motorists’ groups were also left fuming at the plans.
Luke Bosdet, of the AA, revealed 40 per cent of affected firms in Nottingham had passed on the costs to workers.
He said: “It is not an exaggeration to say this will become a poll tax on wheels.
“When councils get a sniff of getting more money from motorists they grab it, regardless of the unintended consequences.
“Scottish motorists need to stand up to councils and tell them it really is not on.
“It’s a very stupid policy. It will not take people out of cars because the alternatives are not there.”
Nottingham has managed to cut peak-time commuting traffic by around 30 per cent since the scheme was introduced.
Cash raised would be funnelled into public transport.
Alex Quayle, of Sustainable Transport Scotland, says the levy would convince drivers to leave their cars at home.
He said: “Nottingham has seen a reduction in congestion and they’ve also seen revenue raised to invest in sustainable transport, trams, buses and better provision for walking and cycling.
“That means that people who can walk or cycle or get public transport have a better service to do so, so it does cut congestion by people changing how they travel.”
The Scottish Government says the tax will be ushered in only after a vote.
A spokesman said: “Plans to give powers to councils to introduce a Workplace Parking Levy will come forward via an agreed Green Party amendment to the Transport (Scotland) Bill.”