Support for parking plan is welcomed

Published on Thursday 5 February 2009 09:08

THE councillor who proposed a scheme to link parking charges to car pollution has welcomed the public support for the scheme.

Green councillor Steve Burgess was delighted to see his scheme, which sets residential vehicle permit fees according to the amount of carbon dioxide produced, receive support from the public following a consultation.

Local residents responded by more than three to one in favour of the initiative designed to encourage the use of more climate friendly vehicles and discourage gas guzzlers. Under the scheme permit costs for the largest vehicles will double to 320. Costs for the most efficient cars will drop to as little as 15.

The proposal, first put forward last July, was initially rejected by council leaders, but is now expected to get the go-ahead next week.

Councillor Burgess, the Greens' environment spokesperson, said: "Edinburgh Council now has a chance to introduce a groundbreaking green initiative, the first of its kind in Scotland, that will reduce carbon emissions from vehicles.

"If we seize these sorts of opportunities we can gradually achieve the cuts needed to tackle climate chaos."