Why consider city centre and outer charging areas?
A – This scheme would be able to tackle city centre traffic congestion with the city centre charging area, as well as traffic congestion in and around the suburban business and retail parks, and along the main routes into the city, with the outer charging area. This type of scheme would be able to address traffic congestion problems and improve the environment in areas throughout the city – not just in the city centre. The money raised through this type of scheme would be used for both city centre improvements, as well as improvements in access from the city periphery, from locations outside Edinburgh and throughout south east Scotland. A scheme with two charging areas would reduce any discrimination between out-of-town and city centre retailing and may even encourage visitors from out with the outer charging area to visit the city centre, particularly if only one congestion charge has to be paid in any single day.
