the john lewis partnership, owners of a department store in central edinburgh, called for reduced charging hours in the city centre to reduce the impact on retail shops and improvements to the public transport system before the charge began. the edinburgh chamber of commerce was joined by the freight transport association in requesting that all commercial vehicles be exempted, arguing that businesses would have to pass on their increased costs to consumers or leave the city altogether. an early 2004 survey by the chamber of commerce had 90% of respondents rejecting the proposed scheme with two thirds against road pricing as a matter of principle.