Councillor asks if Glasgow teachers could get discounted city parking permits

Questions have been raised about whether Glasgow teachers should be entitled to discounts on parking permits as “many staff rely on their cars”.

Councillor Lilith Johnstone said she has been contacted by people concerned about the costs of permits, and pointed out there is a lack of parking spaces for some school staff.

The local Labour politician raised the issue at today’s full council meeting, pointing out that her ward of Partick East and Kelvindale is impacted as well as Langside.

She asked: “What scope is there to offer discounted parking permits to school staff, given the limits on parking in some areas of the city?”

Councillor Angus Millar said there is no scope for “discounted parking permits for teachers or other council employees in areas where there is regulated parking”, pointing out the council has a staff travel plan promoting walking, cycling and public transport.

He added: “Unless there is off-street parking provision available to staff members, then all employees would be subject to the same on-road parking charges as other businesses, organisations and road users.

“The council would not offer discounted on-road parking on public roads or off-road parking within public car parks, as it would be inconsistent with the council’s transport strategy and would create a two-tier system between council employees and non-council employees, or indeed teachers and non-teaching council staff. ”

The convenor for climate and transport continued: “Business permits are what has been used for staff within council schools where there is not adequate on-site parking.

“That has been the case for a number of years through all the traffic regulation orders and controlled parking areas that have been put through for the different zones around the city. That has been the case for a number of decades now – that is the provision that exists in relation to teaching staff in schools.”

Speaking after asking the question, Councillor Johnstone told the LDRS: “The SNP Council are rushing to implement controlled parking schemes all over the city, and are not given due consideration to the impacts.

“My Labour colleagues and I have been contacted by various individuals and trade union representatives working in our wards about the cost of parking permits and the lack of parking spaces for school staff.

“This issue affects not just teachers, but cleansing staff, janitors and administrative staff. Given the lack of reliable and affordable public transport in many areas of the city, many staff members rely on their cars.

“We are raising this issue to ensure greater consideration is given to all those affected by these restrictions.”

The council is bringing parking controls to a number of areas around the city, including Govanhill, Battlefield and Shawlands, among others.