Controversial new airport charge goes upto £5 after 10 minutes

The drop-off charges at Edinburgh Airport are being introduced tomorrow

The controversial charge comes into force tomorrow, with motorists allowed up to ten minutes to deposit passengers at the new designated zone - but if they go over that time, the charge shoots up to 5.

Lothians Tory MSP Gavin Brown said: "They have put on this time limit to encourage people to go quickly, but there will be families with small children or people who are not quite so able who need to take their time and they should not feel harassed or hurried under threat of this 5 charge.

"It does strike me as pretty mean-spirited."

Plans for the controversial "kiss and fly" charge, first revealed by the Evening News in June, have been condemned by politicians and passengers as "a rip-off" and "just a way of making money".

Around 9000 people have signed a petition opposing the charge.

Mr Brown said: "As from tomorrow, thousands of people every day will suddenly have to pay this charge. I think you will see outrage. People will be very angry about it.

"Even at this late stage I appeal to the airport to listen to their customers and scrap it."

The airport has argued it is reasonable that customers should make a "modest contribution" in return for tens of millions of pounds of investment.

It has also claimed the charge will reduce car journeys to and from the airport and encourage more use of public transport.

The original drop-off area will be reserved for airport taxis, while private cars and other taxis will be directed to the new "fast track" drop-off area on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park or a newly-designated free drop-off area in the long-stay car park some distance from the terminal.

Motorists approaching the fast-track drop-off area will be able to drive straight in without passing through a barrier. A machine will read their number plate on entry and again at the exit barrier, where another machine will display the amount due.

Anyone staying ten-20 minutes in the drop-off zone will have to pay 5. If they stay up to 60 minutes they will be charged 7 and after that it will cost 9 per hour.

An airport spokesman said: "That's to encourage people to use it as a drop-off area. If they want to see people off or have a cup of coffee with them, they should be using the short-stay car park."

Prices at the short-stay car park are 2 for up to 15 minutes, 3.40 for up to 30 minutes and 4.40 for up to 60 minutes.

The spokesman said the old drop-off area only had room for 18 cars at a time, whereas the new fast-track area could accommodate 50 and the free drop-off area had space for 30.

He said the free drop-off area was a three to-five minute free shuttle bus ride from the terminal.