THOUSANDS of drivers in Glasgow are facing higher parking charges which are being brought in by the council, with some fees more than doubling.
More than 50 streets including London Road, Bridge Street, Port Dundas Road and the Gallowgate will be affected by the price increase. The new tariff - which will see the cost of parking for the first hour rise from 50p to 80p - will apply from September 20.
Cost of short stays will double. It now costs 10p for 12 minutes' parking in those streets but next month this will rise to 20p for 30 minutes, with drivers paying 20p for every 10 minutes after that.
It means a stay of three hours will cost £3.20, compared to £1.50 now.
Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, expressed concern that increasing parking charges would drive people out of the city centre.
He said: "Our members fear parking charges are being pushed too far and this will discourage people from coming into Glasgow."
The new charges will also affect Bell Street, Canal Street, Dobbies Loan and Glebe Street. Motorists who park in Carlton Place, Cathedral Square, St Andrews Street, McPhater Street and Dundasvale Road.
Glasgow City Council defended the price hike. A spokesman for the council said: "Parking charges in many areas of Glasgow have not increased for a number of years. We are establishing an annual review of tariffs in response to inflationary demands, market conditions and effective traffic management controls."
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