No city tolls until we reach transport goals

Business chief warns local leaders over charge bid

- By Ben Borland

THE head of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has urged the SNP-run city council not to introduce a congestion charge until promised public transport projects are completed.

The local authority is planning a tariff on drivers who live in other council areas, other UK nations or overseas entering the city boundaries.

Glasgow residents would be exempt from the charge, although all motorists would have to pay a new fee to use the Clyde Tunnel.

There is a growing spending gap in the city’s coffers, which is being driven largely by the huge cost of housing asylum seekers.

However, council chiefs say the main motivation for the levy would be to tackle climate change by moving people out of their cars.

Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “We cannot support a citywide congestion charge until public transport improvements have been made in line with the conclusions of the Connectivity Commission.