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Edinburgh's congestion charge plans welcomed: Scottish Executive must stop sitting on the fence Commenting on today's statement that the City of Edinburgh Council intends to implement a double cordon congestion charge, Colin Howden, TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager, said: "The City Council is right to stick to its proposals for road charging. There is no hope of solving Edinburgh's traffic problems unless traffic restraint measures such as congestion charging are implemented." "The opponents of congestion charging have presented no credible alternative strategy. Failing to deliver traffic restraint measures in Edinburgh would mean more traffic, more congestion and more pollution for the city. It might be helpful if those who oppose congestion charging could tell us how they would reduce congestion and pollution rather than just whingeing." "Edinburgh's citizens have now voted twice in favour of congestion charging and more public transport investment, first in 1999 and again last year. It is clear that the majority of people are not satisfied with choking congestion, poisonous air pollution and under-investment in public transport. That is why the City Council, who have been talking about implementing congestion charging for a decade now, must now get a move on and stop the rise in traffic pollution and congestion." TRANSform Scotland are now calling on the Scottish Executive to stop sitting on the fence and publicly back Edinburgh's plans: "The Scottish Executive however needs to stop sitting on the fence over congestion charging. If the Executive is to meet its target of stabilising Scottish road traffic levels, the Executive should be publicly supporting Edinburgh's plans for congestion charging rather than hiding away." END OF NEWS RELEASE |