Campaign to halt Edinburgh airport charges starts to take off

A CONTROVERSIAL £1 drop-off charge at Scotland's busiest airport has suffered a major blow with ministers joining the mounting opposition to the plan, The Scotsman has learned.

• Congestion is cited as a primary reason for levying fee. Picture: Dan Phillips

The Scottish Government said Edinburgh airport's proposal for the country's first such terminal drop-off fee "is not supported by ministers".

Signalling a preference for persuading rather than punishing motorists to reduce their car use, it said this was best achieved by improving public transport. The news will come as a shock to airport chiefs, who on Monday said they were "entirely happy" if ministers remained neutral over the scheme.

The Scottish Government stressed the so-called "kiss and fly" charge was a matter for the airport, over which it has no direct control.

However, the official move is likely to bring considerable pressure to bear on airport owner BAA. The privatised former British Airports Authority has not introduced such charges at any of its other terminals, including those at Heathrow and Stansted.

The move also marks a significant shift in ministers' public stance on the issue. When asked for the view of the Scottish Government a week ago, a spokeswoman would say only: "This is a matter for BAA."

The other main political parties already oppose the scheme.

The airport expects nearly one million drivers a year will pay 1 to use a new "fast-track" drop-off zone near the terminal from October. The current, free drop-off area will be moved to the airport's long-stay car park, linked by shuttle buses to the terminal.

Airport managing director Gordon Dewar has said the current zone is increasingly congested and abused by drivers, who should be paying for dropping passengers at the terminal, like buses and taxis.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "As has always been made clear, this is a matter for BAA Edinburgh and BAA Edinburgh alone.

"The proposal is not supported by ministers.

"The Scottish Government's view is the best means of encouraging drivers to leave the car at home is to provide suitable public transport alternatives.

"That is why we are investing over 1.25 billion in public transport and making connections from Edinburgh airport to our national rail infrastructure through the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (Egip]."

Egip involves electrifying the main railway line between Scotland's two biggest cities to speed up journeys and accommodate more frequent trains in six years' time.

As part of that scheme, a new transport interchange will be built at Gogar to enable rail passengers to transfer to trams serving the airport. Some Edinburgh-Glasgow trains will be diverted via the station, which will also be served by trains from Fife and the north.

The Liberal Democrats condemned the drop-off charge as unfair and money-grabbing.

Transport spokeswoman Alison McInnes said: "We want people to take public transport wherever possible, and for those living in Edinburgh city centre there is an excellent Airlink bus service, but for many people there are few if any direct links to the airport.

"This is not a fair charge, and it will not tackle congestion at the airport.

"This is just a money-raising scheme by Edinburgh airport, and I urge them to think again."

The airport said it had not discussed the charge with ministers.

However, BAA has told The Scotsman it consulted Scottish Government aviation officials and thought it had their support. The officials also advised that the charge might need to be increased to change driver behaviour.

An airport spokeswoman said last night: "We've had no discussions about the proposals with ministers, as this is a commercial matter.

"We welcome the Scottish Government's commitment to public transport and are working with them and transport providers to increase the already high 28 per cent of our passengers that access the airport in this way."

However, when asked about the Scottish Government's stance in an interview with The Scotsman on Monday, Mr Dewar said: "I am more than happy that Scottish Government ministers recognise we are a commercial organisation.

"I am entirely happy if they keep a neutral position on this (the drop-off charge]."

He said keeping the current free drop-off zone was not an option because of peak-hours tailbacks, double parking, passengers stepping out into traffic and drivers picking up travellers illegally using the area.

Mr Dewar said the new zone in the adjacent multi-storey car park would both be under cover and offer far more space.

He said the charge was required to pay for the 4m cost of the new drop-off zones, barriers and associated road improvements.

The charge is expected to cut the number of vehicles currently using the free drop-off zone by more than third from 1.6m to 1m a year - and also reduce emissions and air pollution.

Charge income when the changes are paid for in about three to four years' time will be used for future airport improvements, such as expanding the terminal to cope with growing passenger numbers.

The Scottish Government's opposition to the scheme follows a growing chorus of disapproval from politicians, consumer watchdogs, motoring groups and taxi drivers.

Concerns have also been raised by hoteliers, campaigners for the elderly and tourist businesses such as Kyles on Scotland, a destination-management company.

Edinburgh City Council leaders fear the charge will inconvenience passengers and threaten to tarnish the airport's reputation for being passenger-friendly.

A petition launched against the charge by Lothians Conservative MSP Gavin Brown has attracted nearly 1,300 signatures.

Mr Brown said: "We are totally against any drop-off charge in principle and will continue to fight hard against it."

However, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, which is one of the few organisations to voice support for the charge, said the fee would follow Scottish Government policy on encouraging greener travel.

Deputy chief executive Graham Birse said: "There remain free options to take people to the airport by car.

"We have ultimate faith in BAA's plans, which are in line with the Scottish Government's support for environmentally efficient transport."

Mr Birse said he also welcomed ministers' commitment to the tram project serving the airport."

He said: "Their continuing commitment to public transport will be a great help in assisting people in not needing to bring passengers by car."

Several of the airport's main airlines have adopted a neutral position, no doubt aware the charge would have been passed to them were it not being imposed on drivers instead.

Ryanair said it had "absolutely no problem" with the fee, but Bmi said it would not encourage much-needed passenger growth following the recession and volcanic ash cloud disruption.

The petition can be signed at:

www.gopetition.com/petitions/say-no-to-drop-off-charges-at-edinburgh-airport.html

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