Vote means councils can charge employers
Campaigners say the workplace parking tax is misunderstood by MSPs.
Friends of the Earth Scotland said the rhetoric surrounding the levy has been wilfully misleading and accused some MSP of hypocrisy.
For MSPs to back urgent action on climate, but make these misleading objections to reducing fossil fuel car use in city centres is inconsistent at best, and dangerous hypocrisy at worst.”
The powers would allow councils to introduce a workplace parking levy, taking into consideration local circumstances and access to other transport modes. The charge is paid by employers, who decide whether to pass it on to staff who use the parking spaces.
Gavin Thomson, FoES air pollution campaigner, said: For MSPs to back urgent action on climate, but make these misleading objections to reducing fossil fuel car use in city centres is inconsistent at best, and dangerous hypocrisy at worst.”
“WPL is an optional power, specifically requested by our two biggest city councils to cope with transport challenges of city centres. It would only be introduced if local authorities choose to do so, having taken into account local circumstances and after consultation with people likely to be affected.
“We need to have realistic, evidence-based conversations about the choices we must make to reduce climate emissions from our transport system. Some MSPs would rather peddle the fantasy that everyone will be able to drive their car wherever they like, and park wherever they want with no restrictions and no regard for the consequences on other people or the planet.”
The SNP agreed to back the workplace parking levy proposals as part of a budget deal with the Scottish Greens so it is almost certain to be passed by a majority of MSPs in the vote later on Thursday.
An attempt by Scottish Labour to remove the parking levy aspect was defeated during the fiery debate..
The Scottish government's transport bill will also shake up bus services, introduce low emission zones in cities and ban parking on pavements.
