Edinburgh Council explores congestion charge for cars entering capital
Edinburgh is to explore 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.
Cllr Booth told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'I'm delighted Edinburgh has agreed to start conversations about congestion charging with other councils.
'It's absolutely clear that Edinburgh will not meet its commitments to address the climate emergency unless we take bold action to encourage people to choose more sustainable alternatives to the private car.
'While the council doesn't yet have the full powers to introduce congestion charging, and any Edinburgh scheme is likely to be many years away, it is nonetheless right that we start talking about what a scheme might look like.
'[We will explore] whether we have any common ground with Glasgow which is also considering a scheme, and with surrounding councils about how we can ensure an equitable distribution of any income from the scheme to support sustainable commuting into Edinburgh.'
The council's new City Mobility Plan sets out Edinburgh's infrastructure priorities for the next ten years.
More than 70 active travel, public transport and regeneration projects will be taken ahead under the project.
Among them are the long-promised transformation of George Street, an active travel link between the Meadows and the Union Canal and public transport and active travel works in the Granton Waterfront.
More than 50 other projects were paused, the vast majority of which were already on hold before the report or had not yet been started.
Labour councillor Stephen Jenkinson, who convenes the Transport and Environment Committee, said: I'm really pleased that we've agreed this bold programme for our city.
'Prioritisation allows us to work smarter with the resources we have available – making sure we have a clear and achievable path to achieving our objectives.
'This programme follows the successes of major infrastructure projects such as Trams to Newhaven and active travel projects including the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), Roseburn to Union Canal and Leith Connections.
'This is an extensive piece of work which allows the City Mobility Plan to be agile, and able to adapt in the future as necessary.
'However, one key element in this conversation is the fact that we remain dependent on external funding for many projects, particularly from the Scottish Government and by extension Transport Scotland.
'Complex projects which take years to plan and complete but which are subject to annual external funding decisions make this situation inherently difficult.
'We need commitment and stability from the Scottish Government if we're to deliver the changes which our city needs and deserves.
'We'll now take forward these projects which will keep Edinburgh moving and make our city a safer, more sustainable and accessible place for all.'
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