It has been reported that Aberdeen’s low emission zone has cost drivers over £2 million within the initial four months of its implementation. The controversial initiative, which prohibits vehicles considered excessively polluting from key areas of the city centre, was introduced in Aberdeen in June.
At the same time, similar initiatives were rolled out in Edinburgh and Dundee, while Glasgow has operated low emission zones since the summer of 2023.
The Sunday Post has revealed through data from various local authorities that the staggering total from low emission zones stands at £10.6 million from nearly 114,000 individual fines.
Of this amount, £2.2 million pertains to the Granite City, with 24,000 individual fines issued between June and September.
Scottish Conservative shadow transport secretary Sue Webber MSP branded the zones “nothing more than a cash cow”.
She said: “Hard-pressed motorists are continuing to pay the price for the SNP’s financial incompetence.
“With fines having topped an eye-watering £10million, it’s clear many have no option but to enter low emission zones to get to work or visit friends and family.
“Low emission zones are nothing more than a cash cow for councils desperately seeking funds to make up for the SNP’s savage cuts to their budgets.
“If ministers want to encourage people out of their cars, they should use some common sense and deliver reliable public transport services, rather than hitting motorists as a result of their own financial incompetence.”
However, the Government agency Transport Scotland defended the low emission zones, emphasising improvements in air quality and an increase in pedestrian traffic in Aberdeen during the week following the scheme’s launch.
A spokesman contesting the complaints, and said: “We would expect to see the number of Penalty Charge Notices being issued decline over time as drivers of non-compliant vehicles realise they will be caught if driving in low emission zones.
“We are pleased to hear that early indications from Glasgow show that the LEZ is contributing to air quality improvements in the zone.
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“We are not aware of evidence that the LEZ has had a negative impact on footfall within the zones.
“Data from Aberdeen actually showed an increase in footfall the week following enforcement of the city’s LEZ.”
