Restaurateurs angered by Edinburgh council's congestion charge plans

Proposals to make Edinburgh the first Scottish city to adopt a congestion charge have caused outcry among local restaurant and bar owners who say it will damage their businesses.

The scheme, which would charge motorists £2 a day for unlimited access to the city centre, is subject to a legal challenge over who would qualify for an exemption.

Three local authorities - Midlothian, West Lothian and Fife - are seeking a judicial review in the Court of Session, which will be heard on 3 February.

Edinburgh residents will be asked to vote on the plans for congestion charging in a referendum, due to be held by post from 7 to 21 February.

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	London's congestion charge could soon be replicated in the Scottish capital

Iggy Campos, owner of Iggs on Jeffrey Street, which would be inside the proposed congestion zone, said: "It's like everything else: whatever you charge for, people use less - so I am against it. It is human nature and our business will suffer. Rather than have two glasses of wine, customers might have only one because they have to pay the charge as well." But David Penman, manager of Le Café St Honore on Thistle Street, was more cautious. "I hope it won't affect our customers as it will only be on the odd occasion - and £2 to get into town is not excessive," he said, "but it may affect our suppliers, who come in early in the morning every day." Meanwhile, Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has announced a deal to give Capita the contract to operate charging cameras and a call centre, should the expansion into Knightsbridge, Kensington and Chelsea be given the go-ahead. The prospective multi-million pound deal is on top of the £300m contract Capita already has to manage the existing charging zone. It would enable major changes to be made to the way drivers are charged, including different rates for travelling on busy roads or during peak hours. The announcement comes despite the Mayor's original consultation, which showed that 63% of residents and 72% of businesses within the proposed new zone opposed the extension. The extension would not be introduced until February 2007 at the earliest and Capita's deal would run until 2009. The London congestion charge is due to increase from £5 to £8 this July. *Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 20 January 2005*