Edinburgh's Congestion Charging Plans: An Analysis of Reasons for Non-Implementation

Rye, Tom; Gaunt, Martin; Ison, Stephen

Abstract

The City of Edinburgh in Scotland in the UK had advanced plans for a congestion charging scheme until 25 February 2005. However, these plans were abandoned at that time after a referendum that resulted in a ‘no vote’. This paper explains the origins of the scheme, outlines its nature, extent, charging technology and predicted effect; it also analyses the difficulties that exist when attempting to plan and implement such a scheme in a particular governance context, and when there is little unanimity of public opinion about the need for a scheme.
As well as the primary documentation from the proposals (e.g. public inquiry submissions, papers to government), the paper also draws upon a series of face-to-face interviews that were undertaken with key stakeholders. It also provides an analysis of press coverage in the local (Edinburgh) and national (Scottish) newspapers in the run-up to the referendum. These sources explain both the systemic and more local barriers to the scheme's implementation.
The paper draws key lessons which are important for authorities considering the implementation of a road user charging scheme, by suggesting how legislative and governance barriers to implementation can be reduced. The lessons are of relevance world wide.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Nov 5, 2008
• Publication Date: 2008-12
• Deposit Date: Aug 1, 2016
• Journal: Transportation Planning and Technology
• Print ISSN: 0308-1060
• Electronic ISSN: 1029-0354
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 641-661
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03081060802492686
• Keywords: Edinburgh, congestion charging, consultation, implementation
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/320815