FEARS that "limitless" workplace parking levies will "frighten the life out of businesses" are being called out as "scaremongering" by transport minister, Jenny Gilruth.  

The introduction of workplace parking levies sparked controversy in the Net Zero Committee’s briefing on Tuesday as it was announced that limits to the parking charges would be left to the discretion of local authorities.  

Conservative MSP Graham Simpson said he was “astonished” by the announcement.  

He said: “I’m quite astonished by that. The minister and her official have just confirmed that there is no limit whatsoever to what councils can charge for a licence, no limit whatsoever. So that will frighten the lives out of business across Scotland.” 

Responding to Simpson, minister for transport, Jenny Gilruth, said: “Some of what he is suggesting margins on scaremongering. In terms of the costs that will be incurred, this is a matter for local authorities to decide upon.  

“If I was to set a top limit on this, I would be accused of interfering with local democratic principles. We’ve got to get the balance right here.” 

Gilruth went on to advocate for allowing local authorities to make the right decisions for their own communities.  

She said: “It’s really important that local authorities are trusted to look at their local circumstances ... they will look at the needs of the communities that they represent and therefore I would expect them to set an appropriate cost accordingly.” 

Employers will also be allowed the discretion to pass the cost of workplace parking levies onto their employees. Simpson made the point that over 50% of employers elected to pass the charge on to employees in a similar scheme employed in Nottingham.  

However, it was highlighted by Gilruth that the same scheme resulted in a drop in 40 million car miles since 2012 and raised £53 million that was ringfenced for the improvement of local transport.