Glasgow City Council has announced plans to get rid of free Sunday city centre parking. 

The move comes after the council says free parking was having a damaging effect and a lack of availability as drivers park for free for longer. 

The council is proposing charging on a Sunday the same as Monday to Saturday with a £1 per 15 minutes or £4 an hour with a maximum stay of two hours, meaning there will be parking charges seven days a week in the city centre. 

Currently, there are no charges on Sunday 

Poor air quality and increase pollution are thought to be one of the reasons free parking is considered being removed with drivers looking around for a space thought to be a contributor to congestion and air quality. 

Good vehicles and deliveries being able to unload are also being affected by free parking on Sunday according to the council. 

The Council's plan is to introduce restrictions to encourage drivers to move on and ensure there is a sufficient supply of short term parking spaces in the city centre for shoppers, tourists and businesses.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council told The Evening Times: “The current situation leads to a number of problems such as congestion, frustration for motorists struggling to find somewhere to park, difficulties with loading and unloading vehicles, all underlined by unacceptable levels of pollution.

“The proposals are about ensuring the best and most even use of the limited space for street parking in the city centre.

“But they are also about encouraging better use of under-utilised car parks and encouraging a shift to more sustainable forms of transport.

“The recent Connectivity Commission report highlighted the need for radical change in the city’s transport system. These proposals will add to the effort to reform the city centre’s transport system.”

Plans are at an early stage and would be subject to consultation.

The pricing of council-run car parks in the city centre is not expected to be affected.  

This article originally appeared on The Evening Times