Free Sunday parking in Glasgow city centre ends next weekend

Free Sunday parking in Glasgow city centre will be scrapped from the end of this month to help tackle congestion, the council has said.

From Sunday June 30, motorists will have to pay for on-street parking bays, which are currently free.

It is hoped the move will encourage more people to use public transport, walk or cycle.

Glasgow City Council said the new measures will reduce the number of motorists parking in a bay for the whole day, which it claimed stifles the availability of parking spaces and creates a build-up of traffic as drivers search for somewhere to leave their vehicles.

A council spokesman said: “This new range of measures is about tackling parking bay blocking in the city centre on a Sunday.

“Many drivers currently park on the street on a Saturday night, leaving their vehicles unmoved until well into the next day.

“Other motorists also take up spaces for long spells throughout the day on a Sunday.”

He added: “The new regulations will make Sunday on-street parking more frequently available to shoppers, visitors, tourists, blue badge holders and residents alike.

“Improved parking regulations are known to reduce congestion and this in turn should improve air quality in the city centre.

“The number of people walking and cycling to and from the city centre has been increasing in recent years and the new active travel infrastructure that is being put in place will helps us build upon this trend.

“We are also introducing new measures to give greater priority to buses, which will help to ensure a faster and more reliable service in and out of the city centre.”

The move has attracted plenty of criticism from people that live and work in Glasgow.

Commenting on the council’s Facebook post introducing the changes, Donna Pollock wrote: “You would think you would improve public transport on a Sunday before hitting people with more parking charges!

“Some people like myself start work at 6am on a Sunday and have no option but to drive in as their no other transport at that time!”

Teresa Ward said: “There are plenty of other places to go with free parking and a better selection of retailers, can’t remember the last time I went into Glasgow to shop.

“GCC killing off the city centre when they should be encouraging investment and shoppers, they really don’t have a clue.”

Christopher McGee commented: “You have guaranteed even less money for the city centre businesses due to this charge.

“But it’s not all bad news and people can go to out of town shopping centres or shop online. I haven’t been in town for years for shopping anyway. RIP Glasgow city centre.”

Once in effect, the charges for Sunday on-street parking will be the same as other days of the week.

The current charge for on-street parking is £1 for 15 mins, with a maximum stay of two hours.

As part of the new measures, a number of taxi ranks will be extended or introduced across the city centre.

Good vehicles will have a number of exemptions from the waiting and loading restrictions at a wide range of locations.

Drivers are advised to check local signs to ensure they are complying with the new arrangements.