Edinburgh Council’s Leading Opposition Transport Spokesman has slammed fresh plans by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Labour/SNP administration to introduce Sunday parking charges aimed at generating up to almost £1 million in revenue for the local authority. The proposals are contained within the Council’s forthcoming Parking Action Plan.
Next week, the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee looks set to approve one of three options aimed at introducing Sunday parking charges for the first time across the city.
The report lays bare the fact that the options considered would swell city coffers by between £490,000 and £900,000 per year.
The Council is pressing ahead with the introduction of Sunday charging despite its own public consultation showing that over 80% of respondents oppose the introduction of Sunday parking charging.
Particular concerns have been voiced by Church groups over negative impact on congregation numbers and by leading businesses in relation to city centre foot fall.
The Parking Action Plan as a whole has been criticised by cyclists, pedestrians and drivers alike, as demonstrated by the Council’s own consultation and focus groups on the document.
Commenting, Conservative Transport Spokesman, Councillor Nick Cook said:
“With each passing day it becomes clearer these proposals are being pursued to swell council coffers, rather than focus on the wishes of city residents.”
“Conservative Councillors robustly argued against the introduction of Sunday parking charges when the matter previously came to the Transport and Environment Committee for an ‘in principle’ decision.
“The Council’s own public consultation makes clear the strong desire of Edinburgh taxpayers to see the brakes slammed on the deeply flawed proposals to introduce Sunday parking charges.”
“Over 80% of respondents are against the introduction of Sunday parking charges.”
“Edinburgh’s Church community and leading business groups alike have voiced concerns over the negative impact of Sunday parking charges in respect of church congregation numbers and city centre foot fall.”
“Particularly after the tram debacle, the Council and business community have had to work to drive footfall back to the city centre. Sunday charging jeopardises this.”
“The introduction of Sunday parking charges illustrates – yet again – just how out of touch the current Council administration is with the priorities of Edinburgh residents.
“I make a direct appeal to the Transport Convenor to drop these deeply unpopular proposals.”
Councillor Nick Cook
Transport and Environment Spokesman