Parking tax will hit workers the hardest
The Scottish Parliament is currently considering a proposal by the SNP Government looking at implementing a workplace parking levy.
The car park tax would mean that people would have to pay to take their car to work, leaving ordinary workers at a disadvantage.
In parliament, the levy has been identified as a means of “empowering” councils but the reality is a lot more stark for workers.
The impact of the levy will hit families across Rutherglen and Cambuslang hard.
I am already encountering a lot of opposition to the proposal.
In fact, with over 50 per cent of adults with a household income of between £15-20k driving to work, the car park tax will impact ordinary working people the hardest.
The aim of the levy is to discourage the use of cars but this dismisses the reality of everyday commutes for working people.
Not everybody is able to leave their car at home as their work or home are in remote locations and not well-connected to public transport.
Even where public transport is accessible, the service is poor.
I have spoken in parliament a number of times about poor transport links like those offered by Scotrail.
To try and encourage people to use public transport is ill-thought out given our existing public transport is unreliable and inefficient – and often not accessible for disabled commuters.
I have had constituents contact me to note they are concerned about walking in the early morning during the dark winter months and adding considerable time onto their commute by getting multiple buses.
People should not have to decide between making an unnecessary payment to park at their workplace or making their commute unworkable or uncomfortable.
Placing a cost on workers parking in the workplace can simply push people to park elsewhere.
Employees might look at parking in nearby streets to avoid the fee, causing congestion and overcrowding in residential areas.
I will continue to oppose the SNP car park tax as it is unfair, unworkable and punishes hard pressed workers.
Reducing harmful emissions is of course an important goal but to tax workers and try to divert people to an unworkable and expensive transport system is not the best way to do this.
We should not punish workers, many of whom provide important services within our local communities,for taking their car to work.
For many, it is their only option.