Edinburgh's restaurant and bar operators are celebrating today, after hearing that the city's residents have voted overwhelmingly against the introduction of a congestion charge.

Good enough for London... but not Edinburgh

A total of 179,905 residents took part in the postal ballot, which closed yesterday, but only 45,965 voted in favour of Edinburgh Council's proposal to introduce a fee. The scheme would have seen drivers paying £2 a day to enter the Scottish capital.

Leader of the council Donald Anderson said the result meant the prospect of Edinburgh becoming the second city in the UK to introduce congestion charging was dead and buried.

New Park and Ride facilities are being introduced in Edinburgh this year to combat congestion. There is also £25m of road improvements planned for the area, and two tramlines will be up and running in the city by 2009.

by Chris Druce

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