Permit holders in city centre zones are set to lose the right to park in pay and display (P&D) slots under new plans by Edinburgh City Council.
The council have begun to issue letters to motorists warning them against parking in P&D spots and have said that they could be fined or have their cars towed in future if they fail to abide by the new rules.
The changes came into effect from May 1 but it appears as though the local authority are allowing for a grace period for residents to get used to the changes.
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One resident, who had parked in a zone One P&D bay recently found a letter on their car which read: “This vehicle is parked in a pay and display bay.
“Your residents parking permit is no longer valid in pay and display bays.
“On this occasion, we have not issued a penalty charge notice.
“Your residents parking permit is valid for parking in permit holders only or charged use parking places within your own zone.
“If you park in a pay and display parking place without paying for parking time, you may be issued a penalty charge notice and your vehicle may be removed.”
Edinburgh council say that during Covid-19 and under special circumstances, dispensation was put in place that allowed drivers in central, peripheral and extended parking zones to park in pay and display parking places within their own zone.
However this right is now being removed, in a correspondence sent to permit holders in the above zones, the council said: “Over the years, several residents’ parking dispensations have been put in place to allow permit holders to park in other streets or zones in response to local circumstances.
"The introduction of shared use parking places in 2021 increased the number and flexibility of parking places, allowing permit holders to park closer to their homes.
“Therefore, from 1 May 2023 we will remove all ad-hoc dispensation arrangements.
"This includes the dispensation introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic which allowed valid resident permit holders in Central, Peripheral and Extended Parking zones to park in pay and display parking places within their own zone.”
New and existing permit holders in the aforementioned zones will also be facing a new fee if they drive a diesel vehicle.
The council have said that they will be introducing a £50 annual surcharge (additional charge) on all new residents’ parking permit applications for diesel-fuelled vehicles along with withdrawing all out-of-date residents’ parking dispensations.
They said: “If you are an existing permit holder with a diesel vehicle, you will be exempt from the surcharge for the first three years.
“This will apply when you renew your permit on time for your current vehicle.
“The exemption will also apply if you move house but continue to stay within the controlled parking zone or in a priority parking area.
“However, please contact us before you make any changes to your permit via your online account so that we can ensure this process goes smoothly for you.
“If you replace an existing diesel vehicle with another or switch to a new diesel vehicle, even within the three years grace period, the surcharge will apply.
“All new applications will be subject to the diesel surcharge.
“Therefore, if you allow your permit to expire and need to compete a new application, even if you have not moved home or changed vehicle, the surcharge will apply.
“If you are a disabled resident with a blue badge you are eligible for a free permit and for this reason you will be exempt from the diesel surcharge.”
To find out more about the diesel surcharge, including the exact go live date and the pro-rata price for 3 and 6 month permits, you can visit the council website here.
Further information for permit holders can also be found on the council website here.
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