Latest news with #GLASGOWCityCouncil
Scottish Sun
27-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Glasgow City Council warns of parking fine scam days after cyber attack
The council said it made the decision to take affected servers offline while investigations are carried out, which has disrupted several of its day-to-day digital and online services Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GLASGOW City Council has issued a warning over bogus parking fine messages just days after hackers launched a cyber attack - impacting some online services. Earlier this week, the local authority said its ICT supplier CGI discovered "malicious activity" on servers managed by a third-party supplier on June 19. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Glasgow City Council has issued a warning over a parking fine messages scam Credit: Alamy 2 The local authority's online systems have been targeted by hackers Credit: Getty The council said it made the decision to take affected servers offline while investigations are carried out, which has disrupted several of its day-to-day digital and online services. These include viewing and commenting on planning applications and paying penalty charges for parking or bus lane contraventions, while some online diaries and calendars not available, such as bin collection schedules. This evening, the council said it had become aware of "suspicious messages" being sent to some people in the city and the wider region, directing recipients to pay outstanding parking fines online. It said it was investigating these texts "as a matter of urgency", and that details of the messages had been shared with police and national cyber security teams assisting them. The local authority made clear that it does not use text messages to chase the payment of parking fines, and that it would never call, email or message someone asking for their bank details. The council said if anybody does need to pay a parking penalty, they should do so by calling the number displayed on the penalty charge notice (PCN). In a statement earlier this week, a spokesperson for the local authority said they "can't confirm" whether any data had been stolen in the incident. It went on: "As a precaution, we are operating on the presumption that customer data related to the currently unavailable web forms may have been exfiltrated, and we have contacted the Information Commissioner's Office on this basis. "Until such time as we can ascertain if data has been stolen, and what this may be, we advise anyone who has used any of the affected forms to be particularly cautious about any contact claiming to be from Glasgow City Council. "Glasgow City Council apologises for the anxiety and inconvenience this will undoubtedly cause." Chilling moment thieves steal car with wireless device in seconds as new doc reveals how Brit motors end up in Lithuania The council said that they "can't totally discount" that the scam messages involve stolen data but that the "early indications" are that it is either the work of opportunistic criminals, or a more widespread scam. The local authority added that no financial systems have been affected and no details of bank accounts or credit/debit cards processed by those systems have been compromised. Police Scotland is involved in investigating the cyber incident, along with the council, the Scottish Cyber Co-ordination Centre and the National Cyber Security Centre. It is the third time in recent months that a local authority has been hit by a cyber attack, after Edinburgh and West Lothian councils were targeted in May. Anyone contacted by someone claiming to have their data is advised to contact Police Scotland on 101 or call the Cyber Incident Response Helpline on 0800 1670 623.
Scottish Sun
20-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Glasgow to introduce new tourist tax that's almost £5 a night – but locals won't be happy
Read on to see who has to pay the tax CASHING IN Glasgow to introduce new tourist tax that's almost £5 a night – but locals won't be happy GLASGOW City Council is set to introduce a new tourist tax at around £5 per night - but locals won't be happy. The visitor levy will be brought in from January 25, 2027 and will see people pay five per cent of the cost of a hotel room, B&B, AirBnB or hostels per night. Advertisement 3 Visitors staying in Glasgow will be hit with a five per cent tax on their accommodation per night Credit: Getty 3 It is expected to raise around £16million each year for the city Credit: Alamy It is expected to bring in around £16million each year for the city as visitors are set to be charged £4.83 on average. The money raised will be spent on public services, like street sweeping, investing in city landmarks, and improvements to parks, to improve the city for residents and visitors alike. Councillors approved the levy at the city administration committee yesterday morning. The tax will be in place for anyone staying at a hotel in the city - and this includes locals with a Glasgow postcode. Advertisement Speaking out against the tax following the decision was Reform councillor Thomas Kerr. The party also hit out on social media saying: "Glasgow City Council approves tourist tax - even for locals!" Mr Kerr added on X: "I've never believed a tourist tax was the right policy for Glasgow. "This tax risks pricing out families, hurting local B&Bs and deterring much‑needed tourism just as our city recovers. Advertisement "The council is skint, but penalising guests isn't the answer." Hitting back at Reform's comments, Scottish Labour's MSP fro Glasgow Paul Sweeney said: "I have only ever stayed overnight in a hotel in Glasgow once - it was for an assessment centre for the BAE graduate scheme. I didn't pay for it. Moment hardcore anti tourist mob surround Brit tourists in Majorca chanting 'go home' & telling Brit ex-pats to 'go to hell' "How many Glaswegians are staying over at a hotel in the city they live in? A completely ridiculous argument." Scottish Greens MSP for Glasgow, Patrick Harvie said: "Glasgow is a global city, drawing visitors from all over the world. Advertisement "But we have seen how over-tourism can damage communities, like in Venice and Barcelona, where the residents end up paying the price. "The tourist tax is vital to delivering sustainable tourism where local residents feel the benefit of our tourism and events sectors. "I'm delighted that Glasgow is continuing to benefit from Green policy in action." Advertisement In January, Edinburgh was the first council in Scotland to bring in a tourist tax, boosting city coffers by up to £50million. Labour leader of the capital's council, Jane Meagher, labelled the cash the 'single biggest injection of new funding this side of the millennium'.
Scottish Sun
01-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Major update on transformation of Glasgow city centre
There will be a range of new features at the iconic site NEW LOOK Major update on transformation of Glasgow city centre GLASGOW City Council has given a major update on the transformation of George Square. A revamp project is underway as part of the local authority's Avenues programme, which aims to make the city centre more attractive, greener and better connected. 4 Works are underway to transform Glasgow's iconic George Square Credit: Tom Farmer 4 The main contract has been awarded to Rainton Construction Credit: Tom Farmer 4 New features include a water feature, raised lawn, and feature lighting Credit: Glasgow City Council 4 The revamp forms part of the local authority's Avenues programme Credit: Glasgow City Council The main contract for the works has been awarded to Rainton Construction after a Glasgow City Council committee decision. The work on the contract will begin in June, with George Square scheduled to be completed by August 2026. The contract award - worth more than £20million - covers not only the George Square works, but also the creation of Avenues at North Hanover Street (between Cathedral Street and George Square); George Street (between Montrose Street and George Square); West George Street (between Nelson Mandela Place and George Square); Cochrane Street and St Vincent Place. These works will be done in two phases, with George Square, St Vincent Place and West George Street due for completion in August 2026, and Cochrane Street and the sections of George Street and North Hanover Street to be completed in the Spring of 2027. The works include informal play areas for children in sensory gardens, a raised lawn platform, new tree species in the square, new seating to add to the remembrance benches, and feature lighting. Between May 12 and 23, the 11 bronze statues will be removed for conservation and restoration before their return to the Square in 2026. Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: "This is a huge milestone in the transformation of George Square. The appointment of Rainton means the main construction works are now just weeks away, adding real momentum and a sense of excitement to this historic project. "Glaswegians will already have seen the construction site starting to take shape but the appointment of this contractor is the last major piece of the jigsaw. "Over the 16 or so months from June, we will see a new and significantly improved public space take shape - a new square on a par with many of our international peers, one Glaswegians can be proud of, and which is fitting of a city of our standing." Meanwhile, plans for a £5.6million revamp of decaying Sauchiehall Street were rocked by a series of setbacks. Glasgow's Sauchiehall St revamp facing more delays as workers 'axed' days before Christmas Upgrading works were due to be completed by Christmas, but weren't finished until last month. In January, it emerged Sauchiehall Street had been tipped to be named Scotland's ugliest place at the Carbuncle Awards, which names and shames the country's biggest eyesores. And it has recently emerged that a multi-million-pound drainage upgrade on the street is now a haven for disease-ridden rats.
