Would a congestion charge bring benefits to Edinburgh?

Congestion charges could be brought in for drivers entering Edinburgh city centre.

Proposals for a road toll in the capital were rejected in a 2005 referendum – but councillors are once again exploring how a new scheme would operate.

They say a levy could help combat heavy traffic and air pollution while funding better public transport and infrastructure.

At the moment, London is the only city in the UK to have introduced a congestion charge for vehicles entering its city centre, costing drivers £18 per day.

Before any congestion charges can go ahead here, existing legislation may need to be updated. The Scottish Government is currently setting up a working group to examine the issue.

Lothians MSP Miles Briggs says he is “really concerned” about the plans.

“This was overwhelmingly rejected by the population of Edinburgh back in 2005 – but it is now being brought back by councillors to try and develop almost as a stealth tax,” he said.

“The council is undertaking a consultation on this, yet it’s quite clear they do not want to put this to the people.

“I want to make sure the public is aware of this, so we have an opportunity to say ‘no’ before it is snuck in through the back door.

“People do not want to see additional taxes – I don’t think it’s right given the cost of living crisis.”

The plans drew mixed reactions from people on the street.

A man told STV News: “I’ve got no issue. I’m a driver and a cyclist. It is congested in Edinburgh – if that reduces the number of cars going into the city centre, I don’t have an issue with that.”

One woman added: “I think it’s already very difficult to drive in Edinburgh, so I think it would make it more so. It wouldn’t make too many people very happy.”

“I think this city is great because you can use public transport,” another woman said.

“The traffic gets quite bad. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing.”

'The traffic gets quite bad': People on the streets of Edinburgh had their say on the plans — ‘The traffic gets quite bad’: People on the streets of Edinburgh had their say on the plans STV News

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, said congestion is “one of the biggest challenges” facing Edinburgh.

“Over the last three years, this administration has chosen to invest in solutions that actually reduce congestion: delivering major active travel projects, introducing a fully electric cycle hire scheme, leading a regional electric vehicle charging partnership, and seeing consistent growth in tram and bus use.

“We’ve consulted on tram expansion and are taking forward an ambitious City Mobility Plan that sets out a credible, long-term vision for how people move around a growing city.

“By contrast, the Conservative position amounts to little more than waving through more traffic and hoping for the best.

“Simply creating more road space and clinging to an outdated ‘car first’ mindset is short-sighted, finite and ultimately counter-productive – it doesn’t solve congestion, it entrenches it.”

He said councilors are still awaiting the outcome of Transport Scotland’s regulatory review.

“What is clear is that doing nothing, or defaulting to policies that prioritise congestion over communities, is not an option,” he added.

“As our city continues to grow, we need bold, evidence-led solutions that put people first – and I’m confident that this approach is the right one for residents, businesses and the future of our city.”