GLASGOW’S councillors are to ask the Scottish Government for the power to charge city centre workers a levy for parking their cars at work.

And shoppers could also be targeted under the scheme, which may see supermarkets, gyms and retail outlets forced to pass the tax on to customers.

City chiefs yesterday agreed to take the issue up with Scottish ministers as part of a bid to help lower fuel emissions and raise much needed cash for public services.

But there was no mention of whether there will be improvements to Glasgow’s public transport network to help cope with a potential increase in demand.

Anna Richardson, the City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction said: “At this stage we’re only seeking approval to ask for the power. After that, whether we choose to implement any levy would be subject to wide ranging consultation and discussion.

“It will affect gyms, supermarkets, shopping centres and anywhere there are parking spaces, but this is all hypothetical because all we’re doing is seeking a new power.

“Nottingham are taking in £9m a year for a city that is smaller than Glasgow. It’s a significant amount of extra money that could go into a sustainable transport pot.”

Conservative councillor Robert Connelly hit out at the plan, branding it “unfair” to workers and businesses.

Labour’s Matt Kerr said that his party supported a levy in principle but said that a new road user charge, which would see motorists pay to drive in the city centre, would be a better option.

He added: “Road user charging has the benefit of not requiring a change of legislation. We could go ahead with that in Glasgow now while only requiring ministerial sign-off instead of having to go through parliament.

“We could use the funding raised to go towards the Avenues Project and to grow active travel in the city at a time when local government is struggling.”

Despite that councillors voted in favour of asking the Scottish Government to give them the power to implement a new workplace parking levy.

It comes on the back of a decision by COSLA to support workplace parking levies in principle.

Currently the Transport (Scotland) Bill 2018 is progressing through parliament to include new rules on low emissions zones, bus services, parking, smart ticketing and road works.

There is no provision in relation to workplace parking levies at this stage but that is expected to change after several councils, including Edinburgh City Council, expressed an interest in introducing new charges.