A charity that runs a food kitchen has feared its operation is under threat due to a row over bus gates.

Homeless Project Scotland operates under the Heilanman’s umbrella bridge in Argyle Street three nights a week serving hundreds of meals a week.

The stretch of Argyle Street where its premises are and where volunteers give out the food has bus gates on approaches heading north and south at either side.

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The manager of the charity said it has had an agreement with the council that it has a dispensation and didn’t need to pay the fines triggered by its vans accessing the site.

But he says now it has been told it must pay the £30 fines which he said puts the operation in jeopardy.

Glasgow City Council told the Glasgow Times there was a period when the dispensation lapsed and it will be re-instated and there is no threat to the operation.

Colin McInnes, Homeless Project Scotland manager, said: “Glasgow City Council should be ashamed of them self for penalising a charity for helping our most vulnerable in our city, when people need us most we are being burdened by bus lane fines.

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“I would implore that Glasgow city council reconsider their position ASAP. We need to get on with continuing to assist, support and provide hot meals for the people of Glasgow and helping those in need.

“People can’t make Glasgow with this ridiculous targeting of charities going about their objectives, it’s barbaric and an attitude you would expect to find in the 19th century 

He added their street teams, who carry naloxone for treating overdose, have also been told they are not an emergency service and also must pay if they go through a bus gate.

Mr McInnes said: “We have received a bus lane fine due to having to go down a bus lane to check on a homeless person who was reported as rough sleeping and also possible overdose but we explained this to Glasgow City Council officers and they sent us a reply saying we had to pay the ticket. Paying tickets to save people’s lives. This is wrong and inhumane."

The council said there is one outstanding, for Nelson Mandela Place, where the charity does not have a dispensation.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council, said: “Homeless Project Scotland were granted a dispensation for vehicles to go through the bus gate at Argyle St to allow access to the Heilanman’s Umbrella.

“This dispensation lapsed in January but will be formally restored if up-to-date vehicle information is provided.

“If any penalty charge notices have been issued against their vehicles since January in relation to Argyle Street then they should be appealed and we will cancel these fines.

“However, we are aware of only one penalty charge notice that is currently outstanding in relation to vehicles operated by Homeless Project Scotland.

“This fine relates to travelling through the bus gate at Nelson Mandela Place, where the organisation has no dispensation.”