Clyde Tunnel toll still under consideration by council

A driver congestion charge and toll for the Clyde Tunnel is still under consideration by Glasgow City Council.

The local authority warned in 2023 that a funding gap meant driver charges could be implemented – but only for people who do not live in the city.

National agency Transport Scotland has now suggested the city council could take a leading role in bringing in new schemes like congestion charges.

However, any system is unlikely to be introduced until after the Scottish Parliament elections next year.

The tunnel, which links north-west and south-west Glasgow, is a key part of the city’s transport infrastructure but due to its age requires regular maintenance and repairs.

Previous estimates suggested the city council face a yearly shortfall of around £820,000 for managing the road – around 10% of the city’s entire road maintenance budget.

Cllr Angus Millar, the convenor for climate, Glasgow Green Deal, transport and city centre recovery, told a recent meeting the council was continuing to meet with Transport Scotland and local government body Cosla.

He said this was primarily “in relation to national commitments to reduce car vehicle mileage and the potential roll-out of road user charging as a travel demand management tool”.

He added: “Transport Scotland has expressed interest in Glasgow and Edinburgh taking a lead role in exploring road user charging and we anticipate further discussions with City of Edinburgh Council in establishing their interest.”

Scottish Greens councillor Blair Anderson suggested the scheme could provide enough funding to make buses in Glasgow publicly owned and free.

The Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney has backed the proposal, saying the current situation is not sustainable.

He said: “Whilst I believe Transport Scotland should take over responsibility for what is a nationally significant trunk road, it is clear Glasgow City Council cannot continue to subsidise an annual funding shortfall of £820,000 on the Clyde Tunnel.

“Therefore, introducing a toll for vehicles that are not registered within the city council boundary passing through the tunnel seems like a reasonable proposal in line with European norms.”

However, Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said the idea was another example of a “war on motorists” by the SNP.

She said: “This ‘tunnel tax’ would punish workers, families, and hospital patients travelling to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

“Many of the hospital’s dedicated staff commute from outside the city and this charge would clobber them simply for driving to work.”

The tunnel cost £10m to build and was estimated to take around 9,000 cars a day when it first opened in 1963.

It is now estimated to carry more than 25 million vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians every year.