'John Swinney tells Edinburgh cycling campaigners he supports congestion charging'
Spokes argues that a charge would help cut congestion and improve public transport
Edinburgh cycling campaigners say First Minister John Swinney has told them he is in favour of congestion charging in Scotland.
Spokes posted on social media after a reception at the Scottish Parliament marking the 20th anniversary of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, saying: "Asked by Spokes at the reception, First Minister John Swinney agreed congestion charging should be introduced in Scotland."
Long-standing Spokes member Ian Maxwell told the Evening News: "John Swinney was the main speaker at the reception. I approached him after he'd spoken and had a very quick exchange.
"He had just finished giving a speech, talking about what the Scottish Government has done in connection with climate change. He said in his speech that he wanted suggestions from people as to other things that could be done. I suggested that he should consider congestion charging as a way of improving transport, but also relieving traffic congestion and making it easier to get about by public transport.
“Straight away he said 'Yes, I support the idea of congestion charging', so I said 'Well, maybe you should ask your transport minister to make a move'."
Legislation to allow councils in Scotland to introduce congestion charging was passed in 2001, but it requires secondary legislation before it can take effect and Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn announced in September that work on road-user charging powers had been halted because of “the ongoing financial pressures facing households”.
Mr Maxwell said: "To me, that is a completely misguided argument. It's thinking in terms of costs to motorists, not benefits to people who don't have cars or people who use public transport rather than private cars.
"If congestion charging could really improve the running of buses and trams in Edinburgh it could also reduce emissions from vehicles because public transport can move far more people around than individual cars."
He said that while he was helping to conduct Spokes' November traffic survey this week, he was struck by the continuing large number of single-occupant vehicles travelling in the city. "That's the sort of thing a congestion charge would have a real impact on."
Mr Maxwell said he thought there was "enthusiasm" among some Edinburgh councillors for congestion charging, but without the secondary legislation in pace, the council could not act.
"That's why I was pleasantly surprised that John Swinney came straight out and said he supports it.
“We hope this will keep the question alive, and if there is this enthusiasm at the head of Scottish Government that's a very good thing - and well done, John Swinney, for being frank about it."
Edinburgh held a referendum on a congestion charge in 2005, when the council had plans for a £2-a-day charge. But the proposal was decisively rejected by 74.4 per cent to 25.6 per cent. Turn-out was 61.7 per cent.
Last year Edinburgh council agreed it should have conversations with neighbouring local authorities and with Glasgow on the idea of a congestion charge, although transport convener Stephen Jenkinson has since said it is “not something being actively pursued at this time”.
Mr Maxwell said: "Ideally, I would like to see congestion charging introduced, run for a couple of years and then have a referendum, which is what has happened in other places.
"The reason for that is people won't appreciate the benefits and will tend to magnify the problems until they see whether it works. But if you look at cities where they have done congestion charging it does work and it becomes far more acceptable once people have realised what's happening."
The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.