Edinburgh ‘not ruling out’ congestion charge
● Council revives proposal – 14 years after it was rejected by residents
Congestion charging is on the agenda again for Edinburgh after council bosses refused to rule out bringing for ward plans to help reduce traffic in the Capital – 14 years after the idea was rejected by the public.
The city council has included the p otential to “explore the introduction of road user charging to manage demand” in its early city centre transformation proposals as one of a range of measures.
I n Fe b r u a r y 2 0 0 5 , E d i n - burgh residents over whelmingly rejected the introduction of a congestion charge – with more than 74 per cent of people refusing to back the idea.
This led to the then council leader Donald Anderson stating the idea “is now dead and buried for Edinburgh”.
But council transport official Will Garrett suggested the city would consider a congestion charge if other moves it was planning to cut down on air pollution did not prove to be effective.
H e s a i d : “D e m a n d m a n - a g e men t i s a b o u t t r y i n g t o address demand with a stick rather than a carrot. These are ideas, they are proposals that have come for ward through the engagement that we have had.
“There are ones that have come through with a significant level of support from people.”
Mr Garrett was pressed by Conservative councillor Scott Douglas as to whether a congestion charge would be considered if not enough people moved from car travel to public transport.
Mr Garrett added: “If we get the level of modal shift that we are looking for, we may well not have to use these. At this stage I cannot tell you, hand on heart, whether we will or we will not use these.
“They are all measures that are being used elsewhere successfully so we need to give them serious consideration.”
Conservative transport and environment spokesman Nick Cook called for the idea to be binned, along with the workplace parking levy proposals.
T h e c o u n c i l l o r s a i d : “We recall the discussions that this council has had in the last 10 or 15 years and the local referendum on that issue of congestion charges – let’s be clear and call it what it is.
“There was a lo cal p oll on that matter and, as far as I’m concerned, the result of that referendum, like other referendums, should be respected. It should be completely ruled out.”
But transport and environment convener Lesley Maci n n e s s a i d : “O u r v i s i o n f o r Edinburgh is to create a cleaner, safer and inclusive transport system and I’m delighted that, under the cit y mobilit y plan, we will be able to move forward a range of measures to achieve this.”
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