We the undersigned oppose the plans to charge for car journeys that cross the Edinburgh City boundary and call on these plans to be withdrawn. If we genuinely want to get people out of their cars then what we need first is a reliable, affordable, more frequent public transport system available to all, before charging is even considered.

The SNP intend charging Midlothian residents who travel to Edinburgh at least £2 per day to drive across the Edinburgh Council boundary. That’s on top of the planned workplace parking levies, which will also hit people who rely on their cars to get to work, due to the lack of adequate, reliable public transport.

Someone who lives in Midlothian and works in Edinburgh could be charged over £500 for entering Edinburgh Council boundary and another £500 for parking there.  That’s at least £1,000 per year for the privilege of working in the capital.

That’s rich coming from a Party whose Midlothian Councillors recently argued that Midlothian residents could not afford to pay an extra 65p per week per household in Council Tax, which could have protected many council services and local jobs, here in Midlothian.

Their manifesto states “We will introduce a commuter charging zone at the city boundary to discourage those living outwith the city from driving in.”

So that means that if you need to drive to the Gyle shopping centre, Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh Airport, even to attend a hospital appointment at the Royal or the Western, you will have to pay the charge.

Their argument that this is purely to do with climate change principles is laughable, as they are promising not to apply congestion charging to any Edinburgh Council Taxpayers even though many live over 10 miles from the city centre. So, a resident of Danderhall which is a few yards outside the city, will pay the charges but someone from South Queensferry will not.

If we genuinely want to get people out of their cars then what we need first is a reliable, affordable, more frequent public transport system available to all, before charging is even considered.