A congestion charge in Glasgow will drive businesses out of the city, the Chamber of Commerce has warned.
Chief executive Stuart Patrick says firms cannot support the proposed idea without better public transport being provided.
His comments come as the city council is considering a charge among a number of measures to cut traffic and improve the environment, including a visitor levy and tolls at the Clyde Tunnel, though one councillor admitted it would also be a money-raising exercise.
Businesses have opposed the low emission zone and the level of parking charges and this latest move is proving another frustration on top of rising costs.
In a response to the congestion charging plan, Mr Patrick said: “We cannot support a city-wide congestion charge until public transport improvements have been made in line with the conclusions of the Connectivity Commission.
“We are very concerned about the possible displacement of business out of Glasgow. We believe the City Council needs support from the Scottish Government to deliver priority transport projects such as the Clyde Metro and the Glasgow City Region Bus Partnership improvement plan.”
The Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland has urged ‘caution’ over introducing the charging package.
The congestion charge would exempt Glasgow residents but would hit commuters, tradesmen and others outwith the city boundaries.
Plans to implement a workplace parking charge, which would have raised £8m a year, have been shelved for the time being and remain an option for the future.
SNP councillor Ricky Bell, who serves as city treasurer, said: “We need to have solutions that work for Glasgow, and things like a tourist tax, congestion charging, tolling on the tunnel are the big ones that would make quite a difference to the amount of money we get.”
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