Business representatives have said companies believe new parking charges up to 10pm in Scotland's largest city will have a "devastating impact".

It is claimed the move will hit pubs, clubs, restaurants and theatres in the city.

The "overwhelming majority" of businesses in Glasgow feel that the Glasgow City Council’s plans to extend parking restrictions until 10pm would affect their business negatively, according to a joint survey conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG).

According to the survey, more than half of the respondents think that they would have to reduce staff hours or staff numbers (54 per cent and 50 per cent respectively), and 53 per cent of the respondents contemplate relocating their business if the 10pm parking is in place.

About one in four respondents (38 per cent) feel they might have to close their business.

READ MORE: Thousands call for halt to 'disastrous' 10pm parking charge

Almost all the respondents (97 per cent) say the 10pm parking plans would hurt their business.

More than eight in 10 fear that the changes would reduce footfall and turnover (82 per cent and 81 per cent respectively), while 72 per cent of the respondents think staff recruitment would become more difficult.

The survey was conducted from Friday 15 March to 20 March and was completed by 205 businesses based in Glasgow. The respondents employ over 8,300 people in total.

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Hisashi Kuboyama, FSB’s development manager for Glasgow said: “The survey shows that Glasgow’s business community is extremely concerned about the Glasgow City Council’s proposed parking restrictions.

"They feel that, if implemented, the change would affect many aspects of their business from turnover to staff retention and recruitment.

"It would have a devastating impact on the city’s restaurants, pubs, nightclubs and theatres and could affect hundreds of jobs. The council must have a rethink about their plans.”

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Stephen Montgomery, Director of the Scottish Hospitality Group said: "The businesses of Glasgow have made their concerns very clear in this survey, but this is more than just about business, it is about the people who make Glasgow, who have already been hit with an LEZ policy, and now look to be hit again.

"We want Glasgow to be a thriving city where people want to come to eat in our fantastic restaurants, socialise in our bars, and stay overnight to enjoy a great nighttime economy.

"We would suggest that the council roll back on this policy and tell us all, what their vision for Glasgow is for the next three years.”

A spokesman for the council said: "Changes to pay and display hours in parking zones were agreed as part of a budget that required to find £107m worth savings from council services over the next three years.

"The budget has sought to target poverty and invest in support for communities with Council Tax frozen for the next year.

"The longstanding approach with parking controls has been to prioritise parking for residents in the city’s 22 parking zones.

“By standardising parking hours across all zones we are aiming to provide the maximum benefit for permit holders seven days a week.

"A significant majority of people already come into the city centre by public transport and other forms of sustainable transport.

"We aim to build on this use of sustainable transport, but we also hope to encourage greater use of our off-street car parks, where discounted rates for overnight stays are available.

"Current data shows the city centre is busier in the evening and at the weekend than before the pandemic with people attracted to the centre for entertainment, food and drink.

"Our city centre plans are focused on creating a positive environment for visitors and a growing residential population."

The council also said that "the saving against 8am-10pm parking does not appear in the budget until 2026/27 and it will be consulted upon before being implemented".