Social workers, insurance firms and retailers are among the latest groups lining up to criticise the SNP’s proposals for a car park tax.
A number of organisations will give evidence in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow pleading for the controversial £500-a-year plans to be scrapped.
The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee will hear how the levy could jeopardise the work of some of Scotland’s most crucial public service workers, and even impact on their safety.
The Scottish Association of Social Work said a number of its members had been in touch raising concerns about the tax.
It will tell MSPs: “Placing a charge on social workers to park at work, after using their cars to carry out essential work – much of this in emergency situations – places an added level of stress on workers who need access to their office space to reflect on difficult or even traumatising cases. We are concerned that this could lead to even more social workers leaving the profession entirely.”
One social worker said their daily tasks – including working with suicidal patients – would “not be achievable without using my car”, while another added: “Having a free and accessible car parking space at work is essential because having a car has become vital in meeting the demands and capacities of the job.”
Another stated: “The use of my car is necessary to provide privacy, respect and personalised support to the children and young people I work with. My car is something each child becomes familiar with – it becomes their safe space to talk along to me, to share without pressure or eye contact.”
Insurance firm Aviva, which employs 2000 people in Scotland, also weighed in on the proposals, saying: “The reality is the levy is a straightforward tax on businesses and, potentially, their employees.”
The Scottish Retail Consortium pointed out firms already pay business rates on their car parks, meaning this represents “double taxation”, and stated: “The introduction is likely to add to the cost of doing business for retailers, some of whom operate from several locations in any given local authority area, and many of whom provide parking places at shops for customers and occasionally for employees.”
The safety implications of the SNP’s car park tax have already been raised by Police Scotland, and its fears are being echoed by the Scottish Wholesale Association.
The organisation will tell MSPs: “SWA suggest that reducing the availability of staff workplace parking would have serious implications for staff security and safety.”
The SNP rushed the plans through with Green support earlier this year, but met an immediate resistance from businesses and motoring groups.
Last week, it emerged the Nottingham scheme upon which it is based hasn’t even seen a reduction in congestion as a result.
Scottish Conservative shadow finance secretary Murdo Fraser said:
“The SNP cannot possibly ignore this criticism of the car park tax any longer.
“So far it has completely dismissed the input of workers, employers and even the police on this hated scheme.
“Now we see social workers, insurance companies and retail organisations pointing out the very considerable flaws within the proposals.
“This extra tax won’t cut congestion and won’t change anyone’s commuting habits.
“Instead, it will hit workers and businesses for hundreds of pounds a year, and make life even harder for people who are just trying to get by.
“The car park tax has to be scrapped immediately.”
