Baptism of fire for new Edinburgh airport chief as he faces grilling on drop-off levy

THE new chief of Scotland's busiest airport is to face a grilling by its consultative group over the controversial £1 passenger drop-off charge within days of starting his job.

It is understood Edinburgh airport managing director Kevin Brown, who takes over today, could spark its consultative committee's first-ever vote when he presents the plans to members next Monday.

Several of those on the group, which includes councillors, consumer watchdogs and community and travel trade representatives, are known to be concerned about the charge.

However, supportive members include Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, of which the airport is itself a member.

Petitions launched against the move have attracted some 5,000 signatures, and all 16 Lothian MSPs have come out against the proposal, with ministers stating they will not support it. The airport is writing to all those MSPs to explain its position on the charges.

The airport says the charge, to be introduced from October, is to fund a new "fast-track" drop-off zone in the multi-storey car park beside the terminal.

It would replace the current adjacent, free drop-off area.

A new free drop-off zone will be created at the long-stay car park, linked to the terminal by free shuttle buses every few minutes.

Edinburgh city council transport convener Gordon Mackenzie, who is a member of the 23-strong consultative committee, said he would be raising concerns about the effect of the charge on the airport's reputation at next week's meeting.

He said: "The airport has got to be careful about the impact this has on the perception of Edinburgh as a customer-friendly airport.

"Getting to the terminal is one of the things that makes an airport attractive."

Mr Mackenzie also feared the charge could be increased once introduced. He said: "This could be the thin end of the wedge. We do not want to be driving customers away."

Joe Henderson, of Kirkliston Community Council, who has been a committee member for 20 years, said the issue could be the most divisive it had discussed.

He said: "It could be a unique occasion. I cannot remember us having a formal vote."

He said he expected the view of the committee to be heard by the airport's new managing director, because Mr Brown's predecessor, Gordon Dewar, had been the "architect of this charge".

Mr Henderson said he remained undecided over the proposal. He said there were concerns about the lack of direct public transport to the airport from West Lothian, but he thought the 1 fee would be more of a "nuisance" than be excessive.

Graham Birse, the chamber of commerce's deputy chief executive, who represents it on the committee, backed the charge.He said: "This is purely a mechanism to generate income for the airport, which is entirely reasonable.

"The costs of accommodating visitors, however they come, have to be met, and investment in the facility (the new terminal drop-off zone] fully warrants the charge they are asking for.

People to do not have to pay, because there is a free alternative."

An airport spokesman said: "We will be presenting our plans for our new drop-off facility to the consultative committee, as we do for all capital projects.

"The committee is an advisory body and is not involved in the commercial decisions made at the airport. It is uniquely aware of the commercial pressures we face as an airport, and we value its views on the range of issues we discuss with it."