Glasgow Conservative group leader Thomas Kerr says he was “delighted” to meet with business leaders to hear about their “widespread concerns” over plans to extend and increase parking charges in the city.
Thomas met with representatives from the Scottish Hospitality Group, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and other industry leaders on Wednesday to discuss the growing opposition to the SNP-Green councils measures, with over 14,000 people having now signed a petition against the plans to extend the time when charges will be in place across the city until 10pm.
Thomas says he agrees with business leaders that it will have a “devastating impact” on Glasgow’s night-time economy which is already struggling after the pandemic and with the cost-of-living crisis. He says it is the latest example of the SNP-Green council being totally “out-of-touch” with Glasgow’s businesses and seem determined to oversee a “permanent decline” in the city centre, urging the council to think again on the plans for more parking charges and to stop “blatantly ignoring” the concerns of businesses.
Glasgow Conservative group leader Thomas Kerr said:
“I was delighted to meet with business representatives who have made their opposition to these parking charges abundantly clear to me. Their widespread concerns are fully justified. Listening to them, I heard how many businesses – not just in our city centre – but across the city are at breaking point and how this is the last thing they need. The SNP-Green council seem to be blissfully unaware about the devastating impact extending the time they are in place until 10pm will have on our night-time economy. It is the latest example in a long line of how out-of-touch this council administration is with Glasgow’s businesses. It’s like they want to oversee a permanent decline of our city centre. I will once again be raising the concerns of businesses to the SNP-Green council and I urge them to think again and stop blatantly ignoring what they have raised.”
Stephen Montgomery of The Scottish Hospitality Group said:
“We are receiving growing concerns on the issue of the extended parking times in Glasgow. We have various concerns on this including the safety of our great staff, and the added costs they and shoppers coming into the city could incur. What we would really like to know is what does the Glasgow City Council want this great city to look like? Is it one of busy shops, restaurants, bars along with a great night-time economy, and place which encourages tourism, or, one which is filled with To Let boards and tumbleweed? We are as always more than happy to work with Glasgow City Council to help make the changes needed, however we need to remember that People Make Glasgow!”
