Southside Parking Control Zone plans criticised by thousands of local residents
Over 5500 have signed an open letter urging Glasgow City Council to scrap proposed Parking Control Zones in Shawlands, Strathbungo and Battlefield, warning their plans will cut spaces, harm businesses and disadvantage residents, while the council insists controls are needed to tackle existing parking pressures.
Pollokshaws Road in Battlefield
Words and photo by Samar Jamal
Over 5500 people have signed an open letter urging Glasgow City Council (GCC) to cancel its proposals for Parking Control Zones(PCZ) in Shawlands, Strathbungo and Battlefield, citing that there is no “workable path forward for these proposals.”
The plans aim to introduce parking permits for residents, businesses, a visitor’s pass and a pay and display system. The Parking Control Zone, proposed for 2026, is part of the Council’s Transport Strategy for parking controls across Glasgow, an effort to improve road space access for residents, businesses and visitors, reducing congestion and improving traffic around the area.
The open letter, addressed to Council leader Susan Aitken, Transport Convener Angus Millar and senior officials at Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability (NRS), raises several concerns for the proposals: Equity, inclusion and social impact, community & neighbourhood impact, environment and transport considerations, economic & business consequences, reduction of spaces and accessibility.
The petition was created by Jonny McDonald, a member of the My Shawlands BID and the Community Council. Critics of the council plans have created a detailed 27 page document outlining concerns. They are requesting a “full and immediate cancellation of the proposed Parking Control Zones”
The letter brings into question the feasibility, as the council’s proposal to issue unlimited permits conflicts with the finite number of spaces that are available. Particularly, as there will be an estimated 30% reduction in parking spaces in Strathbungo “due to all parking being restricted to pre-marked bays.”
Opponents are concerned that such plans aren’t functional and are just intended to generate revenue. One person, who signed the petition, was worried that it could create a “bidding war”.
Other major concerns include how the proposals will affect small businesses. The cost of a business permit would leave owners out of pocket £1000 annually. There are also fears that it will reduce footfall for businesses. Current proposals would mean that the only pass available to visitors who don’t have a permit would cost £1.20 per 15 minutes or £14.50 for a maximum stay of three hours.
The open letter also argues that the plans, which only grant 40 visitor passes per year, would be damaging to elderly people who rely on regular home visits from friends and families. As well as impacting those delivering NHS home appointments.
A spokesman from GCC said: “As a local authority, we do not have an obligation to provide parking spaces for vehicles, but we are responsible for managing parking once it becomes an issue.
“The messages we receive from elected members, community council and residents is that parking in Shawlands, Battlefield and Strathbungo can be a problem. Our own observations of parking in these areas confirms there is an issue that requires to be addressed.
“The introduction of parking zones in other parts of the city have proven to be successful. Better management of parking reduces the risk of obstructions and makes access to streets easier for emergency services vehicles and refuse lorries.
“Parking controls also help to make streets safer for other types of road users and can help to improve local environments.
“These are initial plans and so we do urge people to contribute to our survey as local knowledge will make a valuable contribution to the development of the final proposals.”
However, the open letter also highlights that this consultation hasn't granted people the required six weeks to respond and failed to take into account the Council’s own guidance. Which states that “consideration should also be given to particular times of the year when the public and stakeholders might not be able or will be less likely to respond. Holiday periods, particularly Christmas and New Year, should definitely be avoided.”
The council-run survey for Shawlands closed on 8 December and the Strathbungo and Battlefield survey will close on 15 December.
Some residents are in favour of the plans, writing on social media that they look forward to seeing a reduction in cars in the area, and hoping it will encourage more people to use public transport. Although others felt that the Glasgow public transport system was too expensive and unreliable for this to be a realistic alternative for many. Others have suggested that the solution could be underground parking or multi-story car parks, to meet the demand.
The Council’s website lists that plans for Parking Control Zones will be rolled in out in Govanhill, among other areas in, in 2026/27
The open letter will be hand delivered on 15 December, during a march to the Glasgow City Chambers, organised by My Shawlands – opponents of the PCZ are being encouraged to attend to help amplify the voices of the Southside community.