Whose road is it?

Can anyone tell me if the road in front of Edinburgh airport is a "public road"? I assume so, as it is patrolled by police officers and traffic wardens. But if it is a public road, how can BAA impose a drop-off charge?

If is not a public road but a private road owned by BAA, how can it be controlled by public order parking restrictions?

If the road is public, then surely all the council had to do is refuse to allow it to fall into BAA ownership. If it is already private, do they owe all the parking fines back to those who were fined?

I await enlightenment.

BRUCE HENDERSON

Main Street

Winchburgh, West Lothian