Edinburgh council to explore congestion charge
The idea was overwhelmingly rejected by residents in 2005
Edinburgh is to exploring bringing in a congestion charge for cars entering the capital, over 20 years after a similar proposal was defeated at the ballot box.
The city will begin having conversations with Glasgow, which is also interested in introducing a congestion charge, and with other local authorities in the Lothians.
In February 2005, a referendum was held on introducing a congestion charge in Edinburgh, which was roundly defeated.
But some councillors feel that the time is now appropriate to start exploring such a scheme again.
Green councillor Chas Booth, speaking at the council’s Transport and Environment Committee, said: “There is an opportunity today to start a conversation about road user charging. Let’s start that conversation.”
At present, London is the only city in the UK to have introduced a congestion charge. Introduced in 2003, the scheme charges motorists £15 to enter the core of the city.
Under the scheme proposed in 2005, drivers in Edinburgh would have been charged £2 (£3.50 today) to enter the capital.
However, it was roundly defeated, with the postal ballot seeing 74% of voters rejecting the proposal.
Under an amendment to the City Mobility Plan, which was passed at the Transport and Environment Committee on Thursday, the council will begin exploring the plans with other councils.
The city will seek to work with Glasgow, Sestrans and several local authorities around Edinburgh to develop a common framework for how congestion charging could work in Scottish cities.
Any scheme may face an uphill struggle, as the legislation for enabling a road pricing scheme does not fully exist.
London’s scheme was introduced using powers specifically granted to the city by Westminster in 1999.
However, the Scottish Government will soon discuss legislative changes that could make congestion charging possible.
Cllr Booth said that the money could go towards funding local infrastructure projects, dozens of which were paused on Thursday due to a lack of available cash.