Beauty spot parking fee plan dumped

COUNCIL chiefs have confirmed plans to charge drivers for parking at Lothian beauty spots have been scrapped.

The Evening News revealed last week that a blunder by officials meant VAT had not been factored into their proposed £2 charge for visitors leaving their cars at the Pentland Hills Regional Park.

The unpopular fee would have been imposed at Threipmuir, Harlaw, Bonaly, and Flotterstone in the Pentlands.

A “clerical oversight” was blamed for the error – which it was originally thought would bring in £35,000 a year.

That option has now been ruled out and officials are set to go back to the drawing board. The plans were officially scrapped at a council meeting on Friday.

Campaigners have welcomed the news. Speaking last week, David Bewsey, a member of the Colinton Amenity Association, said: “They should finally scrap this and forget about it.”