Car parking tax: The revolt gathers pace

Seven more councils reject levy

SEVEN council chiefs united yesterday to rule out introducing a tax on workplace parking spaces as the backlash against the hated plans continues to grow.

Council leaders in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Perth and Kinross are among those to give a commitment that they will not bring in a workplace parking levy.

They signed a pledge opposing the ‘tax on jobs’ amid a growing public outcry at the proposals.

Also signing up were council leaders from East Dunbartonshire, Scottish Borders, Argyll and Bute and Angus.

It means that nine of Scotland’s 32 councils have now ruled out introducing the levy, likely to be set at around £415 a year for every space.

Trade union Unite added its voice to the objections by urging every local authority to rule out the charge.

A joint statement signed by the Conservative group leaders of 30 local authorities said: ‘The SNP Government proposal to introduce a workplace parking levy is a tax on jobs and will damage economic growth.

‘Employees could be forced to pay an estimated £500 a year to park their cars.

‘This would unfairly penalise workers who often have no choice but to drive to work.

‘As a result, if the workplace parking levy is introduced through legislation at the Scottish parliament, Scottish Conservative councillors in my local authority region will oppose it.’

The leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council has already ruled out the levy, while a motion at North Ayrshire Council proposed ruling it out.

Pat Rafferty, Scottish secretary of Unite, said: ‘Unite has written to all council leaders requesting that they formally rule out the introduction of the regressive workplace parking levy. The ability for councils to set a workplace levy through car parking spaces is a desperate attempt to absolve the Government from the funding crisis they have presided over.’

Murdo Fraser, Scottish Tory finance spokesman, said: ‘Scottish Conservatives are making it clear that we oppose this unwanted, poorly thought-out tax. We will fight to stop it being introduced.’

The SNP agreed to legislate to give councils the power to introduce the levy as part of a budget deal with the Greens.

Asked if the SNP Government would urge its councils not to introduce the charge, a spokesman for Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘If you devolve a function to local authorities, it is up to local authorities individually to decide if they want to exercise that function or not.’