Self-charging cars

Edinburgh Council could be the first local authority in Scotland to charge businesses for allowing employees to park at work (your report, 13 August).

Nottingham charges £402 each year per space. Scottish council leaders are already licking their lips and jumping with joy at the thought of millions of pounds more to spend on their pet projects.

The Scottish Government would have to agree, but anything that hurts the motorist is a foregone conclusion for being passed.

The Scotsman editorial comment that there is a risk that businesses would relocate outside the city is correct. Some could even relocate to England. All 32 councils in Scotland have exclusive car parks. There are 244,300 public sector employees and 1,223 councillors, so lots of cars emitting lots of fumes.

Councils should lead by example and charge their employees and councillors £402 a year for parking before hammering the busi-

nesses which drive the economy. Holyrood and Edinburgh council would be the obvious places for a trial.

CLARK CROSS Springfield Road, Linlithgow