LEZ carnage as motorists hammered – Scottish Business News

Aberdeen motorists have been hit with almost 2,000 fines in the first 11 days of Aberdeen’s controversial, and unpopular Low Emission Zone (LEZ) going live, new figures reveal. In just 11 short days, this punitive tax on hard pressed motorists, grabbed for the council’s coffers a shocking £117,000 – over ten thousand pounds a day. This is 300 per cent greater than the average level of fine revenue achieved by Glasgow in its early stages of LEZ enforcement . According to an STV report, from 1st June 2023 to 13th April 2023, Glasgow hit motorists with £1,010,000 of fines over a 316 day period resulting in a return of £3,196 per day. Perhaps the level of income will reduce as people become more familiar with the scheme.

In an article on May 27th Aberdeen Business News reported that the imposition of the LEZ Scheme in Aberdeen was for the most part deeply unpopular with the public and warned of the potential devastating impact of the LEZ ‘gravy train’. These early results reflect the ‘gravy train’ fears being expressed by many at that time.

Commenting on the data released by the Council, Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr said the figures were “eye-watering” and an illustration of how motorists with older vehicles were being “demonised” from entering the city centre.

The statistics, obtained by the Scottish Conservatives from Aberdeen City Council, show an average of 180 penalty notices being issued each day.

Alford Place is Aberdeen’s top LEZ blackspot, accumulating 582 fines over the 11-day period from when the zone first went live on June 1.

Virginia Street onto Commerce Street is also a hotbed for LEZ penalties, with 579 notices being issued to motorists and 99 fines being issued in just one day.

Set at a national level by the Scottish Government, the initial fine for all non-compliant vehicles entering the zone is £60 but the cost of the PCN is cut by 50% if they are paid within 14 days.

After that, a scheme surcharge means that the penalty charge will double each subsequent breach of the rules by the same vehicle.

Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr said: “These astronomical number of fines are a further indictment of the SNP-Lib Dem council demonising people from coming into our city centre. 

“It’s no wonder motorists believe that the main focus of Aberdeen’s LEZ scheme is to generate quick income for the cash-strapped council.

“Several businesses have already closed since the LEZ zones went live while others are on the brink of having their livelihoods decimated by this draconian scheme, including our taxi trade.

“We know that even some of the council’s own vehicles are still not compliant, yet motorists have been hit with almost 2,000 fines in just 11 days of the scheme going live.

“Lessons should have been learned from Glasgow’s shambolic LEZ rollout but they haven’t and it’s hard-pressed drivers who are paying the price.

“The council must be fully upfront about what this money is going to be spent on and should focus more on working constructively with businesses to help renew confidence and deliver economic growth.”