Edinburgh City Council has put forward plans to increase parking rates by as much as 13 per cent across the Scottish capital in a bid to plug a funding black hole.
Petrol and diesel drivers face sharp parking hikes from April alongside car tax raises. Edinburgh City Council has put forward plans to increase parking rates by as much as 13 per cent across the Scottish capital in a bid to plug a funding black hole.
Under the proposals, parking on George St, St Andrew Square, Charlotte Square, Queen St, Market St and Cockburn St would increase 9.76% to £9 per hour. Parking in the Stafford St and Melville St area, Morrison St to Shandwick Place and the Old Town, including East Market St, would rise by over 11% to £8 an hour.
And parking in the West End, Palmerston Place area, Moray Place, South Side/ Nicholson St, Tollcross/Fountainbridge and Heriot Row would rise by over %13 to £6.80 an hour. Parking in New town area including Northumberland St to St Stephen St and Royal Crescent would rise 11% to £6 an hour, while parking in Bruntsfield, Sciennes, St Leonard’s, Dumbiedykes, Stockbridge, and Dean would rise 12% to £4.50 an hour
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The increases also include a rise of 15% for on-street parking in South Queensferry, taking it to £1.50 per hour. Parking charges in the Extended Controlled Zone would increase by over 10% to £4.20 an hour, while charges for on street bus/coach parking would rise by over 11% to £9.80 per hour.
Official council documents detailed: “Edinburgh is also a city of deeply entrenched inequalities, and after over a decade of austerity, the continuing impact of Brexit, the pandemic and the continuing cost of living crisis, there are significant challenges affecting our residents – challenges we must come together as a city to address.
“These challenges have only been made worse by the new Labour Government. The recent increase in employer National Insurance has had a significant implication on finances for Local Authorities. Additional challenges amidst climate, nature, and housing emergencies which must be a consideration and influence our investments and decision-making.”