Glasgow City Council is facing fierce criticism from campaign groups over £8m worth of “income generation” plans in its budget, to be generated by parking restrictions.

The Southside Against Parking Restrictions (SAPR) group says it has “caught the council in black and white” as the council’s budget papers for 2024 until 2027 detail the multi-million-pound proposals to bring in more money for the local authority, says the Glasgow Herald.

Over 7,000 residents have signed a petition against the parking tax with residents of Battlefield, Strathbungo, and Shawlands being the first to be impacted before the scheme is extended into Govanhill, Langside, Pollokshields, and New Gorbals.

Motorists will be forced to pay up to £595 every year to park near their own homes, while struggling businesses will be issued with an annual permit fee of £1,050.

SAPR claimed the proposals are being sold to the public as a “modal shift” to encourage more people to use public transport but it is a scheme under the titled section “income generation” of the 2024-2027 budget papers.

It is expected to draw in £5.64m from the increased on street parking charges with the business and visitor permits will raise around £2.5m, bringing in an estimated £8,113,000.

A spokesperson for SAPR told The Herald:

“Glasgow City Council has now confirmed that parking charge increases were introduced to generate revenue to address a budget shortfall. This directly contradicts everything the public was told during the consultation. The council presented to the public its aim of a modal shift from cars to public transport. Yet, in their own documents, they titled these charges ‘Income Generation’.”

The campaigners warned the scheme could see many local shops close, with the costs either being “absorbed, passed on to customers, or will contribute to closure.”

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