MSP’s concern over parking levy charge
Whittle insists‘poll tax on wheels’will damage economies
Council chiefs in South Ayrshire insist they won’t levy extra parking charges on workplaces.
The so-called ‘poll tax on wheels’ is being introduced by the Scottish Government, giving local authorities the power to set unlimited charges for workplace permits.
The project, which has drawn widespread criticism for the potential harm it could cause to businesses and employees, is being left in the hands of individual council administrations.
South Scotland Tory list MSP Brian Whittle has branded the idea a “real concern”.
Glasgow City Council look set to be one of the earliest adopters of a parking levy and believe they could earn around £30 million from the charge.
However, Mr Whittle fears this could lead to other councils opting to impose huge charges to try and balance their books. He is now urging others to think carefully before introducing the levy, which could hit workers and businesses in rural areas hardest.
He said: “The introduction of any workplace parking levy is something that will be a real concern for business owners and staff alike, but this announcement will make a bad idea worse. Councils facing a serious funding squeeze thanks to the SNP Government could see a parking levy as a way to get some quick money through the door but they risk harming the local economy in the process.
“With many businesses using every available penny to recover from the pandemic, some may have no choice but to push the cost onto staff who use the spaces.
“The levy is also potentially deeply unfair to those employees who live or
work in a more rural area and can’t switch to public transport.
“This is another example of the SNP-Green coalition pushing ahead with damaging, poorly thought out policies that could harm the economy and cost jobs.”
A spokesperson for the SNPled South Ayrshire Council said: “Introducing parking charges for workplaces is not included in the administration’s budget proposals.”
The introduction of any workplace levy is something that will be a real concern to business owners and staff