Edinburgh work place parking levy could be in place by 2025
You may have to pay to park your car at work by 2025
Parking at work in Edinburgh could soon cost you, or your employer.
The City of Edinburgh Council's transport committee will meet this week discuss the possibility of bringing in a work place parking levy (WPL).
From March last year Scottish Government legislation came into force, allowing local authorities to charge businesses which provide on site parking for their staff.
The cost would be based on the number of parking spaces available.
Employers can then choose to take on the charge themselves, or pass it on to their employees.
Councillors will discuss a report which details revenue of more than ÂŁ10 Million a year could be made from implementing the scheme, and that it could be brought in as early as April 2025.
But the papers also show that Nottingham, a city which already has a WPL, has not seen a large decrease in congestion - and that the majority of businesses do pass the costs onto their staff.
The current Labour administration in the Council, and Transport Convener Scott Arthur, are not big fans of the idea, and say they're unlikely to vote for it.
But a combination of the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and SNP are keen to see a public consultation held on the proposal.
Councillor Scott Arthur told Forth News:
"As a labour administration, we still have concerns about the proposals to be honest.
"That's largely around the impact on shift workers, displacement parking - so if people have to pay to park at work, they might just Park on residential streets.
"And also, the trade unions have real concerns about it. So as a labour administration, we don't think we can support it at this time."
Another concern of the Transport Convener is that if Edinburgh was to introduce a congestion charge - as has previously bee proposed - that could create a double whammy effect for locals.
Cllr Arthur said: "We may well be in a situation where people are getting charged both to enter the city, and then to park their car.
"So that is kind of double whammy, and that's something we have to think about quite carefully."
Councillors will discuss the report at the transport and environment committee on Thursday (March 2nd).