Glasgow City Council has repeatedly warned it is struggling to afford the maintenance of the Clyde Tunnel, which is not classed as being part of the national road network. In order to fund the maintenance programme a congestion charge had been mooted, but that, according to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, would “punish motorists for going to work or seeing family”.

Mr Sarwar added that his party would block the introduction of any tolls on drivers who live outside the country’s largest city.

The SNP-led administration on Glasgow City Council has been examining ways to raise revenues to pay for the upkeep of its vast road network, which is regularly slammed by drivers for being in poor condition.

The local authority has also repeatedly warned it is struggling to afford the maintenance of the Clyde Tunnel – a vital link between the north and south of the city – which is not classed as being part of the national road network.

The council has floated the idea of the Scottish Government taking responsibility for the tunnel’s upkeep but no there is no appetite for such a move at Holyrood.

Mr Sarwar said the fault lay with the SNP for failing to invest in the city’s infrastructure.

“The SNP has underfunded Glasgow for years and now they want working people to pay the price for their failure,” the Scottish Labour leader said.

“This charge would punish motorists for going to work, seeing family, meeting friends, or getting to vital services like hospital appointments.

“That is not fair, and Scottish Labour would block it. If the SNP and Greens were serious about tackling congestion, they would fix the mess they have made of buses and trains instead of continuing their war on motorists.”

(Picture: Richard Johnson/Dreamstime)