Transform Scotland has briefed the members of the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee ahead of its evidence session with Scottish Government transport minister Jenny Gilruth MSP this morning. The Committee is hearing a motion to annul the Workplace Parking Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2022. Transform Scotland opposes this proposal:
- Existing measures to reduce emissions from transport are not sufficient and demand management measures to reduce car use will be necessary to meet climate targets.
- The Workplace Parking Levy can generate income for public transport projects and rebalance the cost of private car use versus public transport use.
- The successful implementation of the Workplace Parking Levy in Nottingham demonstrates the benefits gained for reducing congestion, improving public transport and attracting investment.
- As a discretionary power for local authorities, the Workplace Parking Levy allows local authorities to use this tool for traffic management where appropriate to the local context.
Transform director Colin Howden said:
“We hold The City of Edinburgh Council and Glasgow City Council within our membership, both of whom have indicated that they are minded to use the WPL powers granted to them by the Transport Act 2019. As such, we are are opposed to the proposal that these discretionary powers be removed from Local Authorities.
“We find it strange that the Scottish Conservatives are arguing to deprive Local Authorities of powers when they have argued for greater powers for Local Authorities on other transport matters. I’m sure that they will be reminded of their double standards here in the years to come.”
