Exclusive:The 'punishing' number of fines for flouting Edinburgh's low emission zone in first 3 months

The Tories said the figure showed the ‘hefty price’ paid by motorists

More than 17,000 fines have been issued in the first three months of Edinburgh's low emission zone (LEZ).

The Scottish Conservatives said the figure highlighted the “hefty price hard-pressed motorists” are paying under the scheme.

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The party said the penalty charge notices issued between June and August could be worth up to £1.3 million for the council.

The Tories said Edinburgh's motorists are paying a 'hefty price'The Tories said Edinburgh's motorists are paying a 'hefty price'
The Tories said Edinburgh's motorists are paying a 'hefty price' | National World

Tory MSP Sue Webber said: “We know the SNP are intent on punishing motorists, and it’s extremely disappointing that the Labour-run council have taken advantage of the power to introduce an LEZ, in part to plug a cash shortfall resulting from the brutal underfunding of local authorities by John Swinney’s government.

“Many commuters have no option but to take their car into Edinburgh city centre, including many relatively low-paid hospitality staff, who work unsociable hours, when there’s little or no public transport alternatives, yet our workers are being clobbered by another stealth tax because they have an older, non-compliant vehicle.

“Motorists already have to make do with pothole-scarred roads due to SNP underfunding, while the dismal state of public transport – including a costly and unreliable nationalised rail service – makes travelling by any means difficult and expensive.”

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Figures show 6,039 contraventions of the LEZ were detected in June, followed by 5,622 in July and 5,682 last month, which is a total of 17,343.

Drivers of cars are charged £60 for an initial breach, £120 for a second, £240 for a third and £480 for a fourth and subsequent breaches. Buses and heavy goods vehicles face an additional penalty of £960 for a fifth and subsequent breaches.

However, if a penalty charge notice is paid within 14 days a 50 per cent discount is applied, meaning the combined value of the penalties could be as low as £661,560 or as high as £1,381,680.

Penalty charges also revert back to the initial charge of £60 if a vehicle has not been driven within the LEZ for 90 or more consecutive days.

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A recent study indicated Scotland's first LEZ in Glasgow, which came into force in June last year, led to some pollution being cut by as much as one third on one street.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels on High Street at the eastern edge of Glasgow's zone were down by 35 per cent at weekends and by 25 per cent to 27 per cent on weekdays because of reduced traffic, according to research led by the University of Glasgow.

Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, Edinburgh’s transport convener, said: “Our low emission zone has only been in place for three months but already we’re seeing promising signs of people getting used to the changes. The data from Glasgow one year into the start of its LEZ also paints a positive picture, where nitrogen dioxide levels in the city centre have fallen by an average of 20 per cent.

“At the end of the day, our objective is to protect public health from harmful emissions, reduce health inequalities and make Scotland a cleaner, greener place to be. There are of course national exemptions in place for blue badge holders, many vehicles are already compliant, and the rate of compliance is on the rise.

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“Ultimately we want to see zero fines issued in Edinburgh with all drivers fully following the rules, but until then any income from fines will be used towards operating the scheme and other projects which support air quality and address climate change.”

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