Responding to the Transport Minister’s Workplace Parking Levy comments at the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee in the Scottish Parliament last week, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:
“Scotland’s businesses have consistently opposed the introduction of the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) in Scotland due to the additional financial burden it places on businesses and their employees.
“Businesses are still recovering from the financial impact of the pandemic, which has severely reduced trade and significantly increased costs over the past two years, hitting our town and city centres hard.
“By failing to impose a cap on charges, businesses across Scotland will now face a postcode lottery and some difficult decisions at a critical point in their recovery
“Many businesses are concerned that local authorities, whose budgets are already stretched, may now seek to implement this levy as a revenue stream rather than for purely environmental reasons.
“To support Scotland’s economic recovery, the Scottish Government should think again about the negative impact that unlimited workplace parking levy charges will have on Scotland’s businesses.”
This view is supported by Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce and Chief Executive Russell Borthwick added:
“Businesses in a wide range of sectors have been forced to take the financial pain caused by the pandemic restrictions forced upon them. Many have exhausted reserves or been forced to take on borrowing just to survive. With the huge inflationary cost pressures now being felt by all companies just as we see some green shoots of recovery, this is another ill-conceived and poorly timed piece of legislation that will add to this burden and act as a further deterrent to getting people back to the workplace which our town and city centre economies desperately need.”
Scottish Chambers of Commerce is looking for direct feedback from companies to support an amendment opposing WPL which will be brought forward by opposition parties when Parliament returns from the February recess.
They are asking for:
- Case studies and names of companies happy to go public with their thoughts on the WPL, any quotes expressing concern etc.
- Facts and figures on the impact of WPL on businesses
To respond please contact jerskine@scottishchambers.org.uk.