Ministers against Edinburgh Airport £1 drop-off fee

BAA is planning to charge drivers £1 to drop-off passengers at Edinburgh Airport's terminal

Scottish government ministers are not supporting Edinburgh Airport's plans to charge £1 for dropping off passengers at its terminal building by car.

Instead the Scottish government has said it wants to "encourage" drivers to leave their car at home and use public transport instead.

It follows plans by BAA, the airport's operator, to introduce the fee to motorists from October.

A free drop-off zone will be retained at the long-stay car park.

A Scottish government spokesman said: "As has always been made clear, this is a matter for BAA Edinburgh and BAA Edinburgh alone.

"The matter is not supported by ministers.

"The Scottish government's view is that the best means of encouraging drivers to leave the car at home is to provide suitable public transport alternatives.

"That is why we are investing over £1.25bn in public transport and making connections from Edinburgh Airport to our national rail infrastructure through the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme."

The levy will be enforced by barriers at a new drop-off zone on the ground-floor of the airport's multi-storey car park.

A plate recognition scheme will work by charging drivers as they leave the area, with initial charges pegged at £1 for 10 minutes.