Parking fines in Edinburgh set to go up from April
Do you agree that the Council should increase the cost of parking fines in the city?
Parking fines in Edinburgh are set to nearly double.
The Scottish Government is to grant powers to the City of Edinburgh Council, which will allow the local authority to increase the penalty by as much as ÂŁ40.
The Transport Convener Scott Arthur said the Scottish Government confirmed the increase to him, despite being told earlier this year he wouldn’t be allowed to put parking fines up.
Councillor Arthur has confirmed he intends to utilise the opportunity from April, increasing the maximum fine to ÂŁ100.
Currently drivers can be handed a ÂŁ60 penalty charge notice, although this is halved when paid within two weeks.
From April 1st this will change to a ÂŁ100 fine, reduced to ÂŁ50 if paid within a fortnight.
Councillor Arthur told Forth News:
"Firstly, it's worth remembering that parking fines haven't increased in Scotland for over 20 years now. So they've certainly not kept pace with inflation.
"I've been asking for some time that the Scottish Government gives Edinburgh the power to set a slightly higher fine rate to help us deal with some of the parking problems we have in Edinburgh."
Mr Arthur says that whilst this will target people overstaying their paid period in parking bays, the "real issue" he wants to target is drivers parking in bus lanes.
"And also people who are basically obstructing the flow of traffic, and sometimes obstructing our emergency services."
Councillor Arthur believes increasing the fine to ÂŁ100 could reduce "problem parking" by about 20% in the Capital.
He said it would raise “well over £1 million a year” which would be “invested straight into road and footpath maintenance”.
READ MORE: Is Edinburgh the 'pothole Capital of Europe' ?
And he tweeted to say that it could raise up to £2.4 million a year, and adding that it would help tackle ” antisocial parking” – and that “every penny will be invested in fixing potholes.”
He continued: "hopefully that will make a real difference to the flow of traffic.
"But I'm also wanting to use this power responsibly, and that I think it's fair to say that road condition in Edinburgh has never been worse than is just now.
"So what I want to promise people in Edinburgh is for all the money we raise through this increased fine rate, we will invest that straight back into improving the quality of our footpaths and our roads."