Glasgow Sunday parking charges will 'empty church pews'

Glasgow City Council wants to start charging drivers seven days a week in city centre bays which are currently free on a Sunday.

The plan would see drivers pay £1 for 15 minutes with a two hour maximum stay. Parking on single yellow lines would also be banned on a Sunday.

The council said problems with congestion, lack of short term spaces and increased pollution were behind the change.

However conservative councillors claimed ministers have raised concern that the planned charges could lead to a “significant” drop in numbers attending church services.

Councillor Thomas Kerr, deputy leader said the change could affect the elderly most, compounded by a “lack of regular bus services” on a Sunday and claims the new charges could “decimate” the city centre.

He said: “Long established organs of society such as churches would be negatively impacted by this change with some ministers already anticipating a significant drop in numbers.

Read more: Read more of today's top news stories in Glasgow 

“The last thing this minority SNP administration needs to do is to impact negatively one of the major use of the city centre on Sundays. “This issue is further compounded by the lack of regular bus service on Sundays which is a real issue especially during the winter months and would hit the elderly most.

“ Constituents have been getting in touch to highlight the damage this would do to the sense of community in the city centre.

“At a time when shopping habits are changing and the use of the high street is being called into question, it is important to be forward thinking and accept that the traditional use of the city centre would need to be re-defined.”

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce said public transport on a Sunday should be addressed before charging is introduced, while Neil Greig of the Institute for Advanced Motoring, IAM Roadsmart, said the plan “risked the success” of the city centre.