Anger over Glasgow being imposed Scotland’s first low emission zone and could face thousands of fines

Thousands of motorists risk fines if they drive into Glasgow city center from today as the SNP escalates its war on motorists.

Cars, vans, buses and lorries could be fined £60 for breaching tough new environmental rules.

Scotland’s first Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which bans older vehicles from the city’s streets, was given the green light yesterday despite a final court order to stop them.

This means that more than 730,000 vehicles registered in Scotland are not ‘green’ enough to enter the zone with impunity.

Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee are expected to follow suit with their own LEZs next June.

Thousands of motorists risk fines if they drive into Glasgow city center from today as the SNP escalates its war on motorists

Cars, vans, buses and lorries in Glasgow could be fined £60 for breaching tough new environmental rules

Brian Gregory of the Alliance of British Drivers said: “People will be in for a shock when the LEZs come into effect.” Thousands of motorists will have to sell their car and buy a new one or face heavy fines. How is that good for the environment?

Luke Bosdet, of the AA’s Auto Policy Division, said: “The Council’s projections of affected vehicles underestimate the impact of this policy.” In some parts of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone, 44 per cent of cars flouted the regulations.

“Most residents have little or no chance of affording a replacement.”

The crackdown affects owners of most diesel vehicles registered before September 2015 and most petrol vehicles registered before 2006.

Spy cameras read the number plates of every vehicle entering the LEZ, which covers most of the city center.

Drivers of banned cars will then be fined £60 if they enter the LEZ, reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks.

The penalties then double for each additional day a driver enters the restricted area over a 90-day period, with the total penalty capped at £480.

The latest DVLA figures show that 513,914 diesel vehicles and 218,481 petrol vehicles are threatened with a ban from the LEZ.

Glasgow City Council, led by the SNP, claimed the drastic measures were necessary as air pollution in the city center has long exceeded legal requirements for “green” environmental targets.

Scotland’s first Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which bans older vehicles from the city’s streets, was given the green light yesterday despite a final court order to stop them

But Steven Grant, secretary of Unite Glasgow’s taxi division, argued that the electrification of buses – which the city council says is responsible for 70 per cent of cross-border emissions – has brought pollution well below the legal limit. He said: “This harmful and punitive plan will undoubtedly have devastating consequences for our trade.”

“Frustrated taxi drivers ask: ‘Why are we being penalized when aerial surveillance shows Glasgow is now below the legal limit?'”

300 taxi drivers are believed not to have applied for a year-long dispensation, but Mr Grant said it was simply a “stay of execution” for hundreds of taxi drivers.

More than half of the city’s 1,421 black cabs do not meet LEZ requirements and will therefore be banned from the roads next year.

Scottish Conservatives transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: “The practical concerns of local businesses and communities have been ignored by the SNP and its green allies.” that air quality already meets these standards and that phase two will not result in further improvements.”

Meanwhile, yesterday, a Court of Session judge dismissed a court challenge to the LEZ’s cessation at the eleventh hour.

John Paton & Son, a vehicle company and car repair center, had argued the impact of the LEZ was disproportionate and that the council had failed in its duty to keep the system under review.

However, Judge Lord Harrower dismissed the case and awarded the local authority legal fees.

A spokesperson for the council said: “The Glasgow LEZ will come into force on 1 June 2023 as planned. The request for a restraining order was denied.”

Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce said: “The Glasgow Chamber supports the concept of the LEZ as it will help improve air quality in our city centre.” However, we do not support using it as a policy measure to get everyone driving private cars out of the city center and many of our members are concerned about the negative impact on their businesses.”

Glasgow City Councilor Angus Millar, who is responsible for climate and transport, said: “While the vast majority – up to 90 per cent – of vehicles currently entering the city center will not be affected, the LEZ will -Standards address the small minority of vehicles that cause the greatest pollution.’ , making harmful levels of air pollution disproportionately high.’

The Scottish Government’s Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan said: “LEZs are an important tool to protect public health and improve air quality, whilst protecting our environment by reducing harmful emissions and encouraging a shift to a more sustainable one Encourage traffic.”

“I look forward to welcoming further improvements in air quality through this broader enforcement.”