Against opposition, Edinburgh going ahead with drop-charge

Thursday, 28th October 2010

Starting this week, drivers will have to pay a pound to use new passenger drop-off facilities at Edinburgh Airport. Airport bosses are going ahead with the ‘kiss and fly tax’ even though almost all MSPs reportedly oppose the move.

From Friday, 29 October, the new drop-off facilities open at Edinburgh Airport and drivers will have to pay £1 for stays lasting a maximum 10 minutes. The price goes up markedly after the initial period. A recent survey of MSPs reveals that almost all of the 68 MSPs you responded with opinions oppose the imposition of the new fee.

The 68 MPS who gave their opinions represent more than 50 per cent of the Scottish Parliament. Three other MSPs responded to the survey but declined to give any comment. The leaders of all four opposition parties are against the new charge and the Scottish government says the £1 fee is “not supported by ministers”.

Both the Conservative party and the Lib Dems initiated campaigns to have the fee scrapped. Nearly 6,000 people have signed a petition headed by Gavin Brown, the Lothians Tory MSP, that aims to have the drop-off charge revoked. The public rebelled against a similar scheme when it launched this past July at Belfast International Airport. Mr Brown predicts similar anger from passengers at Edinburgh Airport.

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