Campaigners urge Edinburgh councillors to back workplace parking tax to fight ‘air pollution crisis’

Motorists face paying up to £10 a week to park at work in Scotland's capital.

The Scottish Government has opened the door for proposals for councils to charge employers who allow workers to park at work around £400 a year per space.

Nottingham City Council, the only UK authority to introduce a workplace parking levy, said the policy has slowed traffic growth – despite congestion in England and comparable cities increasing since 2012. Between July 2014 and July 2015, Nottingham was the only core city in England to experience a reduction in journey time per vehicle mile on locally managed A roads in the morning peak period.

Although it can’t be wholly attributed to one factor, nitrogen dioxide pollution in  Nottingham has reduced 36 per cent since 1998, believed to be in part down to investment in greener public transport, supported by the workplace parking levy.

The City of Edinburgh Council will bring forward its low emission zone and city centre transformation later this year – which will all attempt to reduce pollution levels in the Capital. Campaigners have called for councillors to embrace the proposals as part of a network of ideas to reduce levels of air pollution in the Capital.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s air pollution campaigner, Gavin Thomson, said: “By encouraging people to think twice about using the car for everyday journeys, this levy can relieve congestion.

“The new low emission zone details are still to be finalised but the urgency of the air  pollution crisis means that it must keep out the most polluting vehicles. Edinburgh has some of the worst pollution levels in Scotland, with four sites breaking the law year after year. Air pollution endangers everyone, but it is most harmful to young people and those with existing health problems. Action to cut traffic on our streets will bring benefits for us all.”

Joseph Carter, head of British Lung Foundation Scotland, added: “A workplace parking levy has considerable potential to reduce car use and improve air quality, but we are also conscious that, for some people, cars are the only transport option available. For example, people living with lung disease who are using oxygen therapy might need to use a car to transport their medical equipment to their place of work, enabling them to continue in employment.

Transport and environment convener, Cllr Lesley Macinnes, said: “Any proposals to introduce a workplace parking levy would, quite rightly, require a period of in-depth research and consultation in order to ensure any solution strikes the best balance for the people who work and live in Edinburgh.”