Security guard 'proves' how Glasgow halted parking charges

We reported how John Hogg accused the local authority of “punishing” low income workers with a plan that would extend parking fees to 10pm in all city zones.

The 60-year-old, from Govan, launched a petition which has gained more than 14,000 signatures slamming the plans.

Glasgow City Council made the decision after their budget required £107m worth savings from services over the next three years.

Now, the plans have been put on hold for the city centre after it sparked outrage among residents and businesses who opposed the plans.

The other zones including in the West End and Shawlands, are still planned to go ahead.

John is celebrating (Image: Colin Mearns)

John told the Glasgow Times: “It wasn’t just my petition that got these results, it was all the businesses and residents coming together.

“So many people challenged these parking charges and stood up to the council and now that has really paid off. We have proved that.

“I was laughed at for doing my petition at first because some people thought it wouldn’t make a difference.

“This proves that when the people of Glasgow stand together and refuse to sit back and do nothing, things can change.

“The parking charges just were not thought out or researched very well, it would have hit so many people very hard.

“We attacked the problem from all sides and now parking won’t cost us for at least a few years, and our voices will be heard.”

John works in the city centre (Image: Colin Mearns)

The proposals to charge for on-street parking after 6pm were included in the council’s three-year budget last month.

However, it sparked anger among motorists and business groups who said it would deter customers from coming into the city centre in the evening.

The changes, however, were not going to happen this year as they require a Traffic Regulation Order and a consultation period - and were likely to be introduced in 2026.

The Glasgow Times understands that for the city centre even that timescale has been abandoned and the extension has effectively been kicked into the long grass.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “The proposed changes to on-street pay and display hours in parking zones require public consultation and will take time to implement. No changes on pay and display hours will take effect until 2025 at the earliest.

“We have taken on board initial feedback from the city centre hospitality sector and we will review the proposal for the city centre. The longstanding approach on parking controls has been to prioritise parking for residents in the city’s 22 parking zones.

“On-street pay and display parking until 10pm is already in place in a number of parking zones and we want to ensure the best possible protection for residential parking. “Our city centre plans are focused on creating a positive environment for visitors and the growing residential population in the area.

“A significant majority of people already use sustainable transport to access the city centre and this is something we want to build upon. But we also want to get the balance right for those who rely on private vehicles to come into the city centre and also the promotion of Glasgow’s evening economy as we work to support city centre regeneration and recovery.”