Bid to stop capital's road tolls
6 Jan 05
Neighbouring councils challenge fairness of congestion charging scheme
A legal challenge to controversial plans to introduce congestion charging in Edinburgh is being launched today.
Councils in Fife, Midlothian and West Lothian are to lodge a petition in the Court of Session seeking a judicial review into plans to charge motorists to enter the capital. They will argue that it is unfair that some Edinburgh residents will be exempt despite living beyond the outer toll cordon, while motorists in neighbouring council areas who live just as close to the city will have to pay.
Edinburgh wants to charge £2 per vehicle for traffic passing through two cordons, which it is estimated would raise £760m over 20 years. The money would be used to fund transport improvements. The three councils will also question the ability of the scheme to allow funds to be shared with surrounding authorities.