congestion charge call 5124

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Meanwhile....

Edinburgh says No to congestion charges

ALASTAIR JAMIESON

Key points

. Poll confirms fears that city council has vastly underestimated level of antipathy to project . Both sides stress need for residents to take part in ballot . As many men as women say they will register their discontent . Younger people aged between 18 and 24 represent only major group likely to lend support to the controversial scheme

Key quote

"It does seem as if voters are returning their ballot papers, despite concerns over the complicated process" - Tina Woolnough, Edinburgh Communities Against Congestion Charging

Story in full: EDINBURGH'S road toll proposals will be rejected by more than two to one, according to the most comprehensive poll yet on the likely outcome of the current referendum.

Nearly half of all residents will vote No to Edinburgh City Council's plan to charge drivers £2 to enter the city, according to a poll for The Scotsman carried out by Scottish Opinion. Only one in five plans to vote Yes.

The survey of more than 1,000 residents reveals another one in five voters remains undecided. But even if all the floating voters chose to support the scheme, the outcome would still be No.

The results confirm fears that the city council, which spent £600,000 on the referendum alone, has underestimated opposition to the scheme.

Leading figures in the No campaign hailed the poll results as "encouraging", but called on residents to ensure their voices were heard.

More than a quarter of all ballot papers - about 80,000 out of 291,000 - have already been returned in the two-week postal vote. The council's ruling group is hoping for a turnout of about 60 per cent. Meanwhile, a hotline is taking more than 100 calls a day from voters saying they have not yet received ballot papers.

The Scotsman's poll of Edinburgh residents, carried out last week, reveals 47 per cent will vote No, 21 per cent are undecided, 19 per cent will vote Yes and 9 per cent will not bother to vote at all.

The remainder are ineligible for the referendum, which ends on Monday, 21 February. Even if the ineligible voters are excluded, the figures make grim reading for the Yes campaign: 54 per cent of eligible voters will say No, compared to 22 per cent Yes with 24 per cent undecided.

The poll - the largest and most comprehensive measure of the likely outcome yet carried out - suggests the council's plans to reduce congestion may be scuppered by a mixture of opposition to the principle of road tolls and concerns over the design of the scheme.

The proposed tolls would run from Monday to Friday and feature two cordons - one around the city centre and one just inside the city bypbutt.

The inner cordon would run from 7am to 6:30pm, while the outer would operate from 7am to 10am. Drivers would only be charged the £2 once in any one day. The charge only applies to journeys into the city.

The council believes it must do something to tackle existing and future congestion across Edinburgh, and has pledged to use revenue from the tolls to improve public transport.

Opponents say the council's scheme is unfair and unworkable. Three neighbouring councils are mounting a judicial review into the scheme, claiming a partial exemption for residents of rural west Edinburgh is unfair on other commuters.

The poll result also suggests opinion on road tolls is largely unaffected by age, gender or social status. Women are as likely to vote No as men, as are voters across the income spectrum.

The only notable difference was support for road tolls among younger voters: 23 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 will vote Yes, compared with 18 per cent of 55 to 64 year olds. Conversely, 59 per cent of 45 to 54 year olds will vote No, compared with only 38 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds.

Tina Woolnough, of Edinburgh Communities Against Congestion Charging, said: "This is encouraging, but nobody can be complacent about getting their point of view across about road tolls.

"It does seem as if voters are returning their ballot papers, despite concerns over the complicated process."

Fred Mackintosh, spokesman for the council's main opposition group, the Liberal Democrats, said: "Until the actual result is known, the most important issue is turnout. It is vital for residents to complete their ballot papers and post them without delay."

Councillor Andrew Burns, the ruling Labour group's member for transport, said: "The only poll that really counts is the postal one currently under way and I am entirely confident that will return a Yes vote from the residents of Edinburgh.

"It is clear from our evidence that they do want to see less congestion and cleaner air, more buses and trams, fewer accidents and safer streets. A Yes vote is the only way that they secure all of these outcomes."

The council yesterday urged anyone who believes they are properly registered to receive a ballot paper for the referendum, but has not yet received it, to contact the Edinburgh City Council referendum helpline on 0131-529 4877.

. Scottish Opinion interviewed 1,008 residents of Edinburgh, aged 18 and over by telephone between 1 and 8 February.