Get set to fork out £15 every time you drive into the city
DRIVERS would be hammered by new taxes under controversial plans to force cars off the roads of Scotland’s cities.
The Scottish Government is considering sweeping reforms aimed at making it more expensive and difficult to use a car.
It means London-style congestion charges could be introduced, with drivers forced to pay for commuting to work. In the English capital, drivers pay a daily charge of £15 for taking a car to the city.
A proposed Edinburgh scheme, scrapped after a referendum defeat in 2005, would have seen a daily charge of £2, with about £50 million a year raised.
The new recommendations have been drawn up by the local authorities running Scotland’s seven cities, and were given to the Government last week, through the City Centres Recovery Taskforce.
It is another blow for motorists under laws passed as part of an SNP and Greens deal in 2019.
Under those plans, companies with 11 or more spaces could be forced to pay the levy – likely to be set at around £415 per parking space per year – with the option to pass the charge on to staff.
The Government wants to achieve net zero climate emissions by 2045, and end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2032.
Last night, Liam Kerr, Scottish Conservative net zero spokesman, said: ‘Hammering motorists disproportionally at every turn is not the right approach to reach our climate targets. This may deter people from visiting our city and town centres, putting businesses at even greater financial risk.’
The seven councils to have submitted the proposals are Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, and Highland, on behalf of Inverness.
Motorists’ groups fear they are being targeted by governments and councils. Rebecca Ashton, head of policy and research for IAM Road Smart, said: ‘We know with the changes coming in, the tax from fuel duty is going to leave a large hole in the Government’s finances, so therefore something has to replace this, but finding the fairest way to do this still needs consultation.’
Adam McVey, leader of Edinburgh City Council, said: ‘We have welcomed being part of the City Centre Taskforce and look forward to seeing the recommendations.’
A spokesman for Glasgow City
‘Finding fairest way still needs consultation’
Council insisted a move to electric and hybrid vehicles would not be enough to meet climate change targets and a reduction in all vehicles was needed.
A Government spokesman said: ‘We have received recommendations from local authorities which we will consider; we will listen to partners from the public sector, businesses and community and voluntary organisations as we make progress.’