Congestion charges for city centres should only be considered on a national basis, north-east transport chiefs said yesterday.
Nestrans, which works to tackle transport challenges facing Aberdeen City and Shire, said it would not want the region to be put at a “competitive disadvantage” compared to other areas.
A commission set up by the Scottish Government to revive ailing town centres around the country has suggested that local councils consider introducing road tolls to make shopping streets more pedestrian friendly.
Aberdeen City Council leader Jenny Laing has refused to rule out the possibility of imposing fees, and said the authority would be happy to discuss it with the Scottish Government.
Yesterday, a Nestrans spokeswoman said the organisation would be wary of the policy being introduced in some areas rather than others.
She said: “We have taken the view that congestion charging should only be considered as part of a national strategy.
“We wouldn’t want to see our region put at a competitive disadvantage over other cities and regions in the country.”
Congestion charges have been in place in London for several years, with motorists paying £11.50 each day to drive within a central zone.
Cyclists in Aberdeen, meanwhile, were not convinced yesterday that a fee for driving in the centre of the city would be effective.
Jyll Skinner, chairwoman of the Aberdeen Cycle Forum, said: “It seems like something that would be more expensive to put into place than is warranted.
“We are in favour of anything that improve cycle safety, but I don’t know if congestion charges in London have done anything to protect cyclists getting killed.
“We hope that, with some of the changes in the new masterplan from the council, then it would not be necessary here.”
Edinburgh City Council leader Andrew Burns, meanwhile, yesterday ruled out congestion charging.
The idea of road tolls was overwhelmingly rejected in a referendum among local residents in 2005.
But Mr Burns, a former transport convener, said there were no plans to resurrect the issue at present.
The Scottish Government has said it will not be “prescriptive” on what measures should be taken “to meet local needs” for town centres.