Local councils now have the power to apply Workplace Parking Levies (WPLs) within their jurisdiction that could cost individuals hundreds of pounds a year.
The controversial scheme is being pushed by the Scottish Government, who recommend local authorities take advantage of the revenue generating scheme.
The Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth, claims that the scheme is a great way to make Scotland’s transport landscape greener, potentially helping it achieve the government’s goal of reducing car travel in 2030 by twenty per cent.
While that sounds good in principle, backlash has come from many directions and it’s easy to see why.
The Scottish Retail Consortium has been the most vocal. Its director, David Londsdale, says there should be a pause to the policy to allow businesses time to properly recover from Covid – a timely point as we endure yet another infection spike.
Let’s also consider that in May this year, the consortium announced Scottish footfall was sixteen per cent lower than the same period in 2019 – worse than the UK average of 13 per cent.
Businesses already pay tax on parking through rates, so it must be asked if there is really a need to double down on those already struggling, as more and more say goodbye to the high street forever.
Hospitality is another industry that can ill afford to take another blow. The Office for National Statistics’ latest jobs figures revealed there are currently 174,000 permanent hospitality vacancies in the UK, up 83 per cent compared to 2019, with many employers struggling to entice workers to apply, and this scheme will likely exacerbate matters.
Whilst all this is going on, fuel cost protests continue to pop up around the country. These include two tractors which recently held up the morning commute in Aberdeen on the A92, as part of a UK-wide protest organised via social media under the banner ‘Fuel Price Stand Against Tax’.
It seems absurd then to consider more parking charges in our towns and cities when businesses and workers are crying out for help to run their essential vehicles in the first place.
An Edinburgh councilor brought a motion forward to ‘continue exploration with the intention of implementation of a Workplace Parking Levy’ (WPL).
With the SNP, Greens and Lib Dems all committed to seriously considering plans for the levy in their 2022 council manifestos, it was no surprise to see the motion was passed by 41 votes to 12.
However transport convener Scott Arthur brought up the fact that Nottingham was the only UK city to have implemented the WPL, and since the implementation, car use by kilometer has increased by 10 per cent, compared to seven per cent in Edinburgh over the same period.
As an alternative solution, he mentioned that Paris, where politicians are working alongside residents to reduce traffic, have gone about it by primarily investing in public and active transport.
Essentially, the idea is that the carrot often works better than the stick. An affordable and sustainable alternative must be provided before we start punishing businesses and individuals indiscriminately.
We keep hearing that the diesel car is on the way out, but the truth is that for most Scots, we won’t see this transition in the immediate future.
Many low paid workers live in areas that are not well connected by public transport and have already invested a lot into a car.
It’s these very people that can’t afford to absorb the cost of the scheme.
One broadcast news outlet canvassed all 32 local authorities to see if they planned to introduce the WPL. From the 28 responses they got back only two councils, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, said they were actively considering the implementation of the scheme.
Glasgow claimed it could make millions of pounds a year from WPL, while Edinburgh noted the council would still need to carry out a consultation and impact assessment before implantation, meaning it may still take three years to implement.
With the high street on its knees, fuel costs at record high prices, severely disrupted rail services, and service industries struggling to attract staff as it is, many business owners will be keeping a worrisome eye on this proposed scheme.
Scotland’s Seafood Industry Looks Inward
Whatever your thoughts are on Brexit, it’s clear things have got off to a rocky start where Scotland’s seafood industry is concerned.
As a nation we have become world-renowned for our produce, from our coasts to our fresh waters, supplying some of the finest shellfish and seafood around the globe.
So much so, according to government statistics, the seafood industry in Scotland accounted for 57 per cent of our overall food exports back in 2019, contributing an incredible estimated £1.02billion to the economy.
However, those involved within the sector were slowly sinking amid the tide of new Brexit regulations when they were first introduced, and two years on the fishing industry is still trying to catch up and work as best as it can when it comes to exports.
Some think it’s time for us to look inwards and reflect on why, when Scottish seafood is so sought after, the country exports more than 80 per cent of fish and shellfish rather than it being utilised in kitchens across the country.
Industry body Seafood from Scotland last week announced a new campaign, Sea the People, to target the UK’s hospitality venues and encourage them to offer more seafood from Scotland on their menus.
Masterchef judge and renowned TV chef, Monica Galetti, has joined the campaign and named the first ever ambassador for Scottish seafood, with the remit of encouraging young chefs and buyers to look at Scottish seafood and appreciate both the quality and the commitment of the people who produce it.
It’s a novel idea, and one that I hope many restaurants and hospitality businesses take the bait on with Scottish seafood used more widely across the nation.
It Made Me Laugh
Council’s Car Auction Gets Teacake Twist
I see Glasgow City Council finally auctioned off a Rolls-Royce which was gifted to the organisation back in 2018.
It was donated by the Tunnock’s teacake tycoon Sir Boyd Tunnock who saw it as a ‘good thing to do’.
Not everyone agreed though and both council and donor received a bit of a backlash about the gas-guzzling vehicle.
The then Provost said the car would help the council ‘show its best face’ but critics thought it was inappropriate at a time when council services were being cut.
But the good news is a lucky charity will be laughing its way to the bank as it has been sold for £105,000.
It Made Me Weep
Growth Forecast Cut for Scotland
It was disappointing to see that Scotland’s economic growth forecast for 2023 had to be revised down due to the impacts of cost increases on consumers and businesses.
The current cost of living crisis means consumers across the board are spending less on non-essentials, with the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde now forecasting growth of just 0.5 per cent in 2023.
Citing the war in Ukraine, Brexit, rising energy prices and the costs of property (both within the rental and ownership market), the public are spending less, driving up inflation and affecting growth for next year.
It will take a strong government and some tough decisions over the course of the year to help set us back on an upward trajectory.
