Homeless Project Scotland 'could close services' if Argyle Street parking fines in Glasgow continue

A homelessness charity said that it faces the prospect of closing if it continues to receive parking fines for food drop-offs.

Homeless Project Scotland said a volunteer was handed the fine after parking on double yellow lines.

The charity, which operates from Glasgow’s Argyle Street, lost an appeal to have the parking fine thrown out despite having a dispensation from the city’s council allowing it to load and unload from the vehicle.

It is urging the council to remove the double yellow lines from the lay-by where the van was parked, and warned that it could face closure if fines continue.

The charity said that for three years it has parked in the lay-by with no issue and a dispensation is in place with the council.

Glasgow City Council said the fine had been issued and the appeal was refused because “a parking attendant observed the parked vehicle over a considerable length of time with no loading or unloading taking place”.

Homeless Project Scotland said it is facing a rise in numbers of people using its services. Homeless Project Scotland

Colin McInnes, the chairman of the charity said that as well as the “rise in aggression and violence” towards volunteers, and a rise in numbers of people using the charity’s services, the charity are facing “the council turning its back on us”.

He said: “The volunteer who was issued the fine was quite upset and I was shocked to the core when the appeal decision came back and the council are still pushing for us to pay for it.

“If we are made to pay, unfortunately we will have to have a board meeting and will have to consider if we have to close the service all because of parking fines.”

The charity, which uses money donated by members of the public to buy and cook food, says around 310 people use its services each night.

It now intends to launch a petition, calling on the council to remove the double yellow lines from the lay-by.

Mr McInnes said that the council were putting “money before hungry mouths” with the fine.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Homeless Project Scotland does indeed have dispensation for a number of vehicles to load and unload from the lay-by outside their premises on Argyle Street, but to comply with the dispensation, HPS must be actively loading and unloading their vehicles at this location.

“On June 22, a parking attendant observed the parked vehicle over a considerable length of time with no loading or unloading taking place.

“As such, a penalty charge notice was issued and the subsequent appeal was refused.”