Bus operator Stagecoach has urged Fife Council to reverse “short-sighted” proposals for charges at park and ride sites.
It claims a fee for parking at Ferrytoll and Halbeath would have potentially serious consequences, pushing people back into their cars and adding to congestion and carbon emissions.
Currently drivers can park for free and take the bus from the park and ride facilities into Edinburgh and elsewhere.
However, the council’s Labour and SNP administration said many used the service for free parking for Edinburgh Airport and its budget agreed on Thursday included the proposal for a ‘modest’ charge.
Stagecoach East Scotland said bus usage fell by 14% in Cambridge after a £1 park and ride charge was introduced there four years ago, and there are already plans to scrap the fare.
Managing director Paul Thomas said: “We understand that the council faces difficult financial decisions, however we have real concerns over what appear to be short-sighted proposals to introduce a parking charge at the park and ride sites.
“As we’ve seen elsewhere, this kind of charging scheme will hit regular commuters hard, potentially resulting in less people using the facilities and higher car use, contributing to even worse traffic congestion on our roads.
“It’s vital that we continue to work together to encourage more people to take advantage of the excellent public transport links available from the park and ride sites, particularly following the reopening of the Forth Road Bridge as a dedicated public transport corridor for travel to Edinburgh.
“Buses and coaches are part of the solution for improved air quality and to help protect our local environment , but if we’re making it more expensive to use sites like Ferrytoll and Halbeath then, as we’ve seen elsewhere, we could push people back towards their cars and undermine all of the environmental benefits the bus can bring.”
He said the firm was seeking talks with the local authority to find an alternative solution.
The council’s budget statement said: “The joint administration is proposing to introduce a modest charge for the use of the park and ride facilities at Halbeath and Ferrytoll.
“Whilst we recognise the importance of encouraging travellers to choose public transport over car usage, significant numbers of people are now using these facilities as long stay car parks while they are on holiday, rather than using expensive airport parking.
“The cost of these two facilities to the council is estimated at around £350,000 a year including non-domestic rates so it is only right that users are expected to make a contribution towards these costs.”
