CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed the reduced increase of childcare fees by Glasgow City Council.

The evening Times revealed yesterday how Chris Cunningham, education convenor was proposing to introduce a discount rate of £3 an hour for Glasgow residents, effectively scrapping the controversial 57% increase to £4 a hour.

Parents in the Fight the Hike campaign had opposed the increase and warned many would be unable to work, facing a rise of up to £300 a month.

The rise will now be 18% instead or 46p per hour, for hours outwith the 600 free hours and for those eligible to pay for under threes.

Parents whose income is below £30,000 will still be eligible for the increase to 900 hours this year, which was agreed last month.

A spokeswoman for Fight the Hike, said: “We are very pleased that Glasgow City Council have listened to the 1000s of Glasgow parents who were affected by this hike and have worked towards a better solution.”

However they still noted the rise is still an above inflation increase.

She added: “Whilst the proposed change is significant it is still an 18% rise which is well above inflation and does not reflect stagnant wages.

The campaigners said if a 3% increase had been applied every years from 2012 it would have taken charges this year to £2.66.

She added: We urge any future decisions on nursery pricing to be based on consultation and evidence.”

The changes mean Glasgow will go from potentially having one of the highest charge in Scotland to one of the lowest.

Glasgow Labour MSP Johann Lamont had campaigned with the parents and raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament. She said the council should be apologising to parents.

She said: “It is welcome news that thousands of families across Glasgow will not be facing such a substantial fee hike.

“It is frankly appalling it took so long for the SNP leadership in Glasgow to realise the damage their decision to increase nursery fees by 57% would inflict upon thousands of hard-pressed families across the city.

“The SNP owe parents an apology and need to work fast to let parents know exactly how much they will pay in August.”

The changes have still to be approved by the coucnil’s Administration Committee.