PAYING a fixed penalty notice is now cheaper than forking out for a day of parking in Glasgow city centre.

The city council agreed to raise parking charges from £3-an-hour to £4-an-hour at the on-street parking bays, when it passed the SNP adminisration budget.

Rather than pay £32 to park for eight hours, motorists could pay a £30 parking fine – if they pay within 14 days.

The driver wouldn’t need to return to the vehicle to refresh the ticket every two hours.

Philip Braat, city centre councillor, said: “The fact that it may become cheaper for drivers to receive and pay for a parking fine rather than to pay parking charges is ridiculous and is just emblematic of the SNP’s inability to think these matters through.

“Labour believe in a shift towards active travel, but this is a totally haphazard approach.

“The council administration lack a single, coherent vision for the City and this clearly shows that to be the case.”

Even the price of car parks in the city centre is creeping closer to the fixed penalty notice charge.

To park for eight hours in car parks on Mitchell Street, Oswald Street and George Street will cost £24.

Council-run Cambridge Street and Concert Square will set motorists back £20 for an eight hour stay.

There are nearly 40 car parks in the city centre ranging from £5 all day to the top fee of £24, depending on location.

The discrepancy with on street parking and fixed penalty charges may cause an increase in the latter.

A car-owner may face being double-fined or even having the vehicle towed it was not parked in a bay, though.

A council spokeswoman said: “Parking charges in Glasgow – and in particular Glasgow city centre – have been considerably lower than many other towns and cities, during a period when most other forms of travel have become much more expensive.

“Likewise, the penalty charge, set by the Scottish Government, has not changed since early 2000 so the financial deterrent effect may have diminished over time.

“Encouraging a shift from private car use to public transport and active travel is a well-established aim of the city’s transport strategy.”

ENDS