An £8.1 million fund from the Scottish Government to help businesses operating within LEZs to retrofit non-compliant vehicles has issued just £14,000 to hard-pressed Aberdeen firms which have been hampered by the traffic restrictions.
New figures released by the Scottish Government show only two businesses in Aberdeen have benefited from the SNP’s LEZ Retrofit Fund.
Across the city, 93% of businesses who applied for grants to help them transition to low emission vehicles have been rejected.
In total, 26 companies applied for help but only four applicants were offered funding, with two being accepted.
It comes as drivers caught in Aberdeen’s low emission zone have been hit with more than £3 million in fines since the LEZs came into operation.
The Scottish Government’s LEZ Retrofit Fund covers up to 70% of the cost of a retrofit for light commercial vehicles, taxis, lorries and refuse collection vehicles.
Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr, who has campaigned against LEZs and bus gates in the city, said: “These figures show the pitiful help being given by the Scottish Government to hard-pressed businesses which have been harmed by LEZs across Aberdeen.
“Several businesses have already closed since the LEZs went live in Aberdeen, while others are on the brink of their livelihoods being decimated by this draconian scheme.
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“Many are relocating their premises or simply avoiding these parts of Aberdeen because the SNP-Lib Dem council have demonised them from coming into our city centre.
“Yet the woeful number of grants issued by the LEZ Retrofit Fund shows the Scottish Government have also shut the door on Aberdeen’s business community.
“Rather than punishing motorists, the SNP government, with the council, should focus more on working constructively with businesses to help renew confidence and deliver economic growth.”
