Residents marched from the East End straight into the foyer of Glasgow City Chambers to protest controversial Parking Control Zone (PCZ) plans for their area.
Dozens of Dennistoun locals entered the council building with a sign depicting a penalty charge notice, which usually contains a parking fine.
Banging pots and pans and chanting "No way, we won't pay," the group are demanding the council rethink plans to extend parking controls in a move that would affect dozens of streets in the area.
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The council says the changes are being proposed because the area has been identified as being negatively affected by commuter parking, as well as "indiscriminate and obstructive parking practices".
The proposals also support the "policies and central aims of the Glasgow Transport Strategy (GTS) in prioritising residential parking".
However, residents have been vocal in their opposition, calling them a "stealth tax."
Speaking from the protest in the chamber today, 15-year Dennistoun resident, Susan Carden, said: "Dennistoun’s a thriving area these days, and to place penalty parking charges will have a detrimental effect, especially for people visiting Dennistoun.
"The prices are so unfair. I don’t believe they’re workable for either local people or local businesses.
“They’re going to have to pay, there’s no guarantee of a parking place, and it’s being contracted out to a private company who are making millions anyway out of parking. It’s not done to help the area, I believe.”
Security staff within the chamber's foyer were quick to seal off the doors to other areas in the building as the protest continued and Susan, 68, demanded to speak with officials.
Adam Lock, 26, moved to the area 6 months ago and joined the demonstration. He said: "I wanted to put my objection forward to the parking penalties, because I think it’s definitely going to change the community a lot.”
"It’s yet another payment for the year on top of what people are already having to pay across the cost of living crisis.
“Some of that money is going to be going towards a private company, RingGo, that runs this stuff and not even back to the council.”
The protestors called for "positive investment in public transport instead of punitive measures" to facilitate a move towards greener communities.
They'd like to see buses brought back into public ownership, demanding the transport be "taken into public ownership and run for the people, not for profit.”
James Roberts, organiser for Living Rent, joined the march. He said: "It’s not fair for working-class people. We’re sick of private companies coming in and carving up bits of the city and taking chunks out of the city.”
“It doesn’t make any sense for ordinary people in the city, people who’ve got lots of money are not going to be affected because they’ve got plenty of money.
“We’re talking about care workers, trade workers, and old people who rely on family members coming to visit them.”
The visitor charges currently stand at £15 per day for a temporary permit, which Susan said would affect her massively.
She explained: “I don’t drive these days, but my partner lives outside the city.
“If he comes through for a weekend, it’s going to be expensive, and where he lives, there’s no public transport, so he has to use his vehicle.”
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Kevin Argue, Head of Service Sustainable Transport, Traffic & Parking Operations at the council, came down to meet with residents.
Residents confronted him with their concerns about the negative impact these charges will have on teachers, carers, older people, migrants, and those at the sharp end of the loneliness epidemic.
One resident described it as a “tax on the poor”.
However, Living Rent say they were frustrated by Mr Argue’s response, as they say he failed to address concerns or say how the council will ensure that these measures don’t hit the poorest drivers hardest.
We previously reported that the community council in the area submitted a 10-page response objecting to the proposals.
Figures included in the letter show that a May 2025 survey found that between 2am and 4am, 2622 vehicles were parked in the area despite a capacity of 3600, while from 2pm to 4pm, 2681 vehicles were parked, with a capacity of 3378.
They say these figures show there is "ample capacity" for residential parking, and provide "no evidence" that commuter parking is affecting the area negatively.
There are currently 13 proposed PCZs across the city, with similar objections from Southside areas affected, which submitted an online petition signed by over 7,000 people.
We reported earlier this month that the council refused the petition at that stage of the plans.
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “Problems with parking in Dennistoun have been raised regularly with the council over many years and we have engaged with the community on the issue over time.
“The area draws in commuter traffic to local health and business facilities and this has a significant impact on the local community.
“We continue to receive parking complaints from the Dennistoun area due to inconsiderate parking and the issues this causes.
“Our parking attendants regularly visit the area and have issued over 3500 fines over the past two years for breaches of existing parking restrictions.
“The council has a duty to manage problem parking and the proposals currently open for public consultation will help to ensure road space in Dennistoun is better managed in future.
“On-street parking controls help to ease congestion, support road safety for all road users, ensure fairer access to limited parking spaces for residents, businesses and visitors.
“Parking schemes also ensure a turnover of spaces for pay-as-you-go drivers while also allowing easier access to streets for emergency and cleansing service vehicles.
“Management road space more effectively also encourages a shift to more sustainable forms of transport.
“The statutory consultation on the proposals is open until January 23 and any interested party is able to submit their views.
“Revenue raised by parking scheme goes towards the costs of operating such a scheme and any excess, by law, must be used to support other roads and transportation projects.”
Have a story or been affected by this one? Get in touch at donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk
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