A city daily is campaigning to save families on its patch from being hit by a planned new parking charge.

The Edinburgh Evening News has launched its ‘Give Grans a Pass’ bid, which is calling for a visitor pass to be introduced for people visiting family in Edinburgh city centre on Sundays.

The campaign’s launch comes after the City of Edinburgh Council announced plans to introduce Sunday parking charges in an effort to tackle the city’s growing traffic congestion and help reduce soaring air pollution rates.

Under the new plans it would cost people spending their Sunday with relatives in the affected area up to £30 per day.

Editor Euan McGrory told HTFP: “Edinburgh is a dynamic and fast-growing city. It is dealing with a lot of issues that will be familiar to successful cities around the world, such as tackling traffic congestion, cutting air pollution, and making the city a welcoming place for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Introducing Sunday parking charges is one of the ways the city is trying to deal with that, but our readers are concerned about the impact it will have on the people who live in the city centre. The families who live in the centre of Edinburgh already put up with a lot in terms of upheaval and disruption, especially from major events including the city’s hugely popular Christmas market and the world-famous summer festivals.

“Sundays have long been the day when they could slow down a little and welcome visitors to their homes. That might be the kids’ gran and grandad dropping in for Sunday dinner or an afternoon at the park.

“At the moment, that costs them nothing, but under the new plans it could cost them £30 for the day. We think a visitor pass scheme for the city centre similar to one that already works in outlying areas is a simple solution and avoids hitting those families.”

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, the council’s transport and environment convener, told the EEN: “Plans to introduce Sunday afternoon parking controls in the city centre recognise the changing habits of residents and visitors and were first approved as part of the parking action plan in 2016.

“Restrictions such as these help to encourage the turnover of parking spaces, and in turn footfall for businesses, while maintaining accessibility and ease of traffic movement.

“By rolling out shared use parking at the same time as new Sunday restrictions, we will be able to provide additional spaces for residents in the city centre and their visitors, while creating more permit and pay and display parking opportunities.”