PORTOBELLO AND JOPPA
RESIDENTS & BUSINESSES AGAINST CPZ
Frequently Asked Questions - Impact on Residents and Businesses
The City of Edinburgh Council intends to impose charges for people to park in Portobello and Joppa, seven days a week, whilst also selling parking permits costing several hundred pounds to residents who can currently park for free and with little difficulty. This is despite the Council’s own 2021 survey of local people indicating a strong majority being against any such plan.
Q: Why are controls being proposed for my street when there are no parking problems?
CPZs work on an area basis, and their extents can be determined by parking pressures or by physical boundaries. The proposed extent of the controls in Portobello recognises the streets where parking pressures currently exist, but also the potential for those pressures to simply move to the next street. The southern boundary of Sir Harry Lauder Road provides a physical boundary that separates Portobello from the surrounding areas. If parking controls were, for example, to be introduced only in the area north of the High Street, then pressures would simply move into the streets south of the High Street. The current proposal protects against that, but it does mean that there may be some streets included that currently experience less parking pressure.
🛑 Resident impact
Reduced Availability: If pay-and-display zones replace previously free spaces, residents without driveways or permits may struggle to park near their homes.
Neighbour Displacement: Neighbours might be forced to park further away or in front of other homes, potentially causing tension or inconvenience.
🛑 Potential downsides
Visitor Parking: Friends, family, carers, or tradespeople may face difficulty finding legal parking without incurring charges or risking fines.
Unintended Spillover: Drivers avoiding pay zones may park in nearby unrestricted streets, increasing congestion there.
Q: Why is paid parking limited to four hours?
One of the aims of the proposed CPZ is to discourage long-stay parking and to encourage a turnover of parked vehicles to allow a fair and equitable use of the available space. However, there may be some locations where longer lengths of stay could be considered and accommodated.
🛑 More emissions, not less
Reducing the maximum parking duration to four hours will not prevent visitors from driving around in search of parking. In fact, once their time expires, they will be forced to move their vehicles and continue circling the area, contributing to more traffic and emissions - not less.
Q: Why do some streets only have controls proposed in certain areas?
In some streets, there will be areas that are not adopted. Those areas have been left uncontrolled within this proposal. Parking controls are designed to stop people from travelling into the city centre, and Portobello doesn't have a problem with people parking to travel into the city centre. The proposed CPZ in Portobello is a standalone proposal and is not linked to city centre restrictions or commuting. Parking controls ensure that parking is managed for the benefit of local residents. Long-stay parking by non-residents is discouraged, leaving more space for residents and their visitors. Maximum lengths of stay create a turnover of parking that benefits businesses, improving accessibility for customers.
🛑 Parking controls will NOT benefit the residents
The introduction of pay-and-display parking will likely reduce the number of available spaces for residents. This could lead to situations where neighbours are unable to park near their own homes, especially if visitor spaces are limited or occupied. The strain on residential parking could create tension and inconvenience within the community.
Q: Will there be enough space for all permit holders? Does the Council issue more permits than spaces?
Households are entitled to a maximum of two permits, but only one permit can be issued to any one person, and every effort has been made to maximise the amount of space proposed for permit parking. Permit Parking Areas have been used extensively within this proposal to allow for the greatest flexibility in where parking can take place. Permit holders will be able to access almost all parking spaces, with the only exceptions being bays that allow paid parking only (coloured purple on our plans) or parking places that are for use by certain vehicles or persons (such as disabled persons).
🛑 There is no cap
There is no cap on the number of permits the Council will issue and although residents must purchase permits, this does not guarantee a reserved parking space. All parking operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
Residential permit costs:
Residential parking permits are priced according to vehicle engine size/CO2 emissions.
For example, a 2012 Vauxhall Mokka will cost £176.20 per year.
🛑 The proposed CPZ scheme is a regressive tax
The proposed CPZ is not just a parking policy - it’s a regressive tax dressed up as environmental reform. By levying uniform charges regardless of income, the Council risks disproportionately burdening the very households least able to absorb the cost. Families already struggling with inflation-busting Council Tax hikes will now face additional financial pressure simply for owning a car.
🛑 Older cars are not a luxury
Charging based on engine size and CO₂ emissions may sound green, but in practice, it punishes those who can’t afford to upgrade to newer, cleaner vehicles. Older cars are not a luxury - they’re a necessity for many working-class residents. Penalising them for circumstances beyond their control is not just unfair, it’s unjust.
Q: How do visitor permits work? How many residents are entitled to and how long do they operate for?
Every resident within the CPZ would be entitled to an allocation of visitor permits each year. Each visitor permit can be used for a maximum of 90 minutes of parking in a permit or shared-use parking place. Visitor Permits can be used together to allow for longer periods of parking. Currently, visitor permits are in scratchcard form, but an electronic system is also proposed. Any blue badge holder would be entitled to receive a double allocation of visitor permits at a reduced cost.
🛑 Fewer visitors for most vulnerable residents
Portobello residents who do not run a car will also suffer, as many who are housebound or vulnerable and who rely on people using cars to visit them will likely see a reduction in people popping in to check on their welfare because parking costs are prohibitive. Permit quotas often don’t account for multi-day stays or multiple vehicles. High daily charges can make even short visits feel financially burdensome. No flexibility/allowance for special occasions, holidays, or emergencies.
Q: Do disabled residents have to pay for a parking permit?
Blue badge holders can apply for a free parking permit, although permits will only be required if and when the proposed zone is implemented. In any instance where permit parking restrictions are introduced, the council will contact all affected residents in advance.
Q: How do the proposals support disabled persons?
Regulating parking in Portobello would create a safer and more welcoming environment for blue badge holders, who are also entitled to free residents' parking permits and can park free of charge in pay and display and shared-use parking places, as well as on yellow lines (providing there is no loading prohibition in place and the vehicle is not causing an obstruction). Any blue badge holder would also be entitled to receive a double allocation of visitor permits at a reduced cost.
Q: What provisions are there for carers?
The Council offers Essential User Parking Permits to qualifying healthcare workers. Carers can currently make use of pay-and-display parking or visitor permits, should they need to park a vehicle within any CPZ. Any blue badge holder would be entitled to receive a double allocation of visitor permits (at reduced cost) that could be used to allow carers to visit. The Council is currently preparing proposals to make additional arrangements for carers, in the form of Carers’ Permits.
🛑 Not all carers will qualify
In Scotland, the term qualifying healthcare worker typically refers to individuals who are formally employed within the NHS or registered care services and who meet specific professional or support criteria.
🛑 What about volunteers?
Volunteers, while often essential to the functioning of health services, are not considered qualifying healthcare workers under legislation like the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019. This is because:
They are not contractually obligated or rostered. They do not replace clinical employees. They are not subject to the same regulatory standards or training requirements. Volunteers play critical roles. Their contributions are valued, but they do not meet the legal or professional criteria for formal healthcare worker status.
Q: What happens if parking migrates to other areas?
The Strategic Review of Parking includes a detailed monitoring strategy designed to identify and quantify any migration that occurs. The Council has approved detailed monitoring of areas around Portobello so that steps can be taken to mitigate the effect of that migration, should it occur.
🛑 The proposals will impact us all
Whilst your street is not currently included in the plans, the likely impact of the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) on your street, based on the experiences of other parts of Edinburgh, will most certainly be detrimental.
🛑 Displacement of parking
The introduction of CPZs in adjacent areas will inevitably push vehicles into surrounding streets to avoid parking charges. Previously quiet streets such as Brunstane Road and the Collesdenes are likely to become congested, making it difficult for residents to find parking near their homes.
🛑 Environmental Impact
Increased traffic from drivers circling the CPZ boundaries in search of free parking will lead to higher levels of noise and air pollution. This undermines efforts to promote sustainable and livable neighbourhoods.
🛑 Lack of democratic engagement
The Council’s approach appears to sidestep meaningful consultation, echoing previous frustrations around the handling of traffic issues on Brunstane Road. Imposing a CPZ without genuine dialogue risks alienating communities and eroding trust in local governance.
🛑 Misguided uniformity
Applying a ‘one size fits all’ policy across Edinburgh ignores the unique characteristics and challenges of each area. Traffic dynamics in Abbeyhill or the New Town differ markedly from those in Portobello and Joppa, and policy should reflect these distinctions.
How the CPZ will affect local businesses?
Q: Isn’t the High Street already thriving with local residents using the shops and businesses?
While local residents do contribute to trade, many businesses on Portobello High Street rely on visitors from outside the area for more than 50% of their income. In the current economic climate, with rising costs and ongoing pressures on small businesses, additional restrictions could significantly reduce footfall and revenue. As a result, some businesses may be forced to close, leading to job losses and fewer amenities for local residents and visitors.
Q: Other areas like Stockbridge and Leith introduced paid parking without impacting local businesses - won’t Portobello and Joppa be the same?
It is inaccurate to suggest that there has been no negative impact, particularly in Leith, where a number of businesses have been forced to close or relocate following the introduction of paid parking. Moreover, Portobello is a very different area. Stockbridge and Leith are densely populated, with higher natural footfall and close proximity to the city centre, making them easily accessible by foot, bus, or tram. Crucially, these areas do not have seven-day-a-week parking restrictions - weekend parking, when most businesses do the bulk of their trade, remains free. Portobello, by contrast, would face full seven-day restrictions, which could significantly reduce visitors from outside the area and further harm local businesses.
Q: Has the Council considered the economic impact of the CPZ on local businesses?
Council officials have acknowledged that this is the first time a CPZ is being trialled so far from the city centre, yet no economic impact study has been conducted to assess how Portobello and Joppa businesses will be affected.
Q: What could be the consequences for local traders if the CPZ goes ahead?
The introduction of seven-day parking restrictions is expected to have a serious negative impact on the High Street. Many businesses are already exploring terminating their leases, as the scheme could threaten their survival.