Edinburgh toll threat
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by Derren Hayes • Hauliers may have to pay tolls to enter Edinburgh city centre if congestion-busting plans are given the go-ahead by local councillors.
Entry tolls and charging cordons around the city are just some of the ideas put forward by council officials to raise money for solutions to the city's traffic problems.
The city council says it needs to find ways of raising more money for road schemes because of cuts in the new unitary authority's transport budget.
If the proposals are welcomed when Edinburgh's transport committee meets this week, further funding could be given for research into possible projects.
Council officials say tolls could lead to road pricing; something the Government has at present ruled out on motorways and trunk roads but indicated it might allow local authorities to implement.
Early figures released by the council suggest tolls could raise up to £5m a year.
The Freight Transport Association, while recognising tolls could reduce congestion, believes penalising hauliers would only add costs to industry. ETA highways and traffic controller Don McIntyre says: "There would still be a need for LGVs to go into Edinburgh and whereas car users have alternatives, hauliers would have to pay the tolls."