Aberdeen councils pledge not to introduce workplace parking charge
City and Shire council leaders from four parties agreed to it
Last updated 22nd Apr 2022
Council leaders in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire have agreed not to introduce a workplace parking levy ahead of the local elections next month.
The controversial charge could have meant that employees would be required to pay to park at their job if their employers opted not to cover the cost.
However, the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce were successful in their bid to support local business in the region after securing confirmation from four parties that they would not implement the levy.
The SNP, Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats all confirmed that they are against the proposals, that were previously a power of the Scottish Government until February.
The Greens were not approached by the Chamber, although Policy Advisor for the Chamber of Commerce, Fergus Mutch, believes the Greens would have been in favour of the policy,
"I think the the Greens are in favour of this this policy, but we recognise that a consensus amongst the the four parties who have committed not to implementing the workplace parking levy in the north east is sufficient.
"I think businesses across the north east will today be breathing a sigh of relief.
"We think that the focus of policy makers in that environment should actually be on improving our transport infrastructure, public transport options.
"And of course, as we move to net zero, having wider availability of EV charging points, that should be the focus of policy makers, not demonising motorists who just need to get from A to B."
Guy Ingerson from the Scottish Greens said: "At this election we won't be ruling out the possibility of introducing this tax locally. However, we believe that this tax should only be used to assist the roll out of further public transport options, as seen in Nottingham.
"If this can be done without this tax, then we'll be happy to not introduce it."
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