Gas guzzler tax set for green light next spring

A TAX on gas guzzlers in Edinburgh is set to be introduced by spring next year – but only after disgruntled motorists have another chance to protest.

Councillors have given the green light for the scheme which will see the cost of residents' parking permits linked to CO2 emissions or engine size, after it won the backing of an initial public consultation.

Drivers will now have another chance to have their say on the proposals when a statutory consultation on the plans is launched in September.

Under the proposals, owners of vehicles such as Land Rovers and the Citroen C6 would see charges double from the current £160 a year to £320. But drivers of the least polluting vehicles in the outer zones would see their permit prices fall from £80 to just £15.

Residents would also face higher charges for second vehicles, with a bill of £400 for the most polluting vehicles. Results of the next stage of consultation will be fed back to councillors for a final vote next February, with the scheme not likely to be in place until the following April.

Responses to the council's "Park Green" consultation found 73 per cent of respondents in favour, with 68 per cent of parking permit holders who responded also in support of the scheme.

Opposition councillors today claimed this consultation process, which saw more than 60,000 letters delivered to permit holders and residents but only elicited 1670 responses, did not go far enough.

But city leaders today hailed approval for the scheme as a big step forward for improving air quality in the Capital.

Councillor Mark McInnes, the city's Tory transport and environment spokesman, said: "There has been a total lack of proper consultation on the issue from the council and I think this will be evident in the next, more formal, phase.

"I just refuse to believe that only nine people in the entire city wrote a letter of objection on this issue."

The majority of people who answered the survey did so online.

There were 18 written submissions and 47 e-mails in favour, with nine and 38 against respectively.

Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city's environment leader, said: "This represents a great step forward. It is going to take a little while before this is implemented but it certainly sends the right message that people driving cars which damage our environment will not be rewarded.

"We have committed to improving air quality in this city and this initiative will assist greatly in achieving this goal."

Green councillor Steve Burgess, who initially proposed the scheme, said: "I am delighted with the public response to this consultation. This is not about fat-cat charges, it is a charge aimed at reducing pollution levels."