A GLASGOW institution may not see its 100th anniversary due to new parking charges introduced in the West End.

Owners of the University Cafe say they could be forced to close before their centenary celebrations next year and are calling for help for independent traders.

While Byres Road residents have to pay £50 a year for a parking permit, businesses have to fork out £700 per vehicle to park near their shops and must pay the full amount up front.

Visitors also have to now pay to park on the street, which retailers say is causing a downturn in custom.

Rico Verecchia, who runs the famous Italian cafe and chip shop with his two brothers, said the new parking fees for residents, shops and visitors to Byres Road could be the tipping point for his famous eatery.

His dad, ship's carpenter Alfredo, fitted out the cafe himself in 1918 and the family has treated generations of Glaswegians to ice cream, fish suppers and sweets ever since.

The introduction of parking charges earlier this month are the latest in a string of plans which small traders say have crippled their profits and reduced their customer numbers.

The closure of the Western Infirmary site and fees of up to £120 a month for a Business Improvement District (BID) have all contributed to the pressures on independent firms.

Rico said: "Next year is 100 years for us here, and we might not even make it that far.

"It's got to a stage now where there's money going out all the time and no money coming in.

"The footfall we had from the Western - there were thousands of people who worked there who would come in - that's all gone.

"Then you've got this Business Improvement District cost and a £700 permit to park outside my business...It's too much.

"There are estate agents which have bought five permits. That's £3500. They can afford that but it means they are parking outside our shops so people can't even stop there."

In some cases owners have been forced to let staff go to accommodate for the extra costs, while others have ditched their cars altogether.

Wilma Scott, who owns X-Cutz hairdressers on Byres Road, has been forced to let one of her staff members go due to the increasing cost of running her shop on Byres Road.

She hit out at the new parking permit charges, and said the fees for customers to park outside her shop is also costing her.

Wilma said: "I have single parents who work for me who only work 16 hours. One particular person has a child in nursery and one in school. How is she supposed to do all that on the bus and be in work for 9am when she doesn't live nearby?

"By that time there are no parking spaces near the shop anyway and we're having to park miles away.

"Larger businesses like Sainsbury's and Waitrose can afford to pay £700 but we can't."

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: “The new parking restrictions are designed to protect residents and local businesses from the indiscriminate and all day commuter parking occurring in the area.

"These measure prioritise residential parking and also improves the availability of parking for visitors to the area and customers to local businesses.

“Business parking permits are designed to support business use in the area.

"The cost - £700 - is a substantial discount on the pay and display costs.”