Green plan fear for disabled drivers
Commitment to being green
Fears have been raised that disabled drivers could become more isolated if Perth is designated as a low emission zone (LEZ).
Perth and Kinross Council has drafted a response to the Scottish Government’s plans to introduce LEZs in Scotland’s four biggest cities.
Whilst Perth is not one of the big four, councillors have previously committed to accelerate changes to address the climate emergency.
But the issue of blue badge holders raised concerns this week when the issue was discussed at a meeting of the full council.
In the officers’ report, they expressed concern about the administration of blue badge holders and said: “Where a disabled person has their own vehicle that has been adapted and registered with a ‘disabled’ or ‘disabled passenger vehicles’ tax class, this vehicle should be included.”
At the meeting, a council officer said it was a “challenging” issue because the badges are issued to people rather than vehicles, explaining it could be “open to abuse if the holder was not in the vehicle at the time”.
Cllr Eric Drysdale feared the response officers had drafted for the Scottish Government could have the effect of preventing disabled people coming into the city centre and “effectively ban them”, making them feel “more socially isolated.”
Chief executive Karen Reid agreed, and said there was a need for officers to “sharpen the wording” around that point.
At Wednesday’s (February 19) meeting of full council, councillors were told the strategy gave the council “another option to move towards low carbon travel”.
Cllr Andrew Parrott, who owns an electric vehicle, suggested “genuinely historic vehicles not old bangers” be exempt if being used specifically for a display, perhaps with clarification from historical vehicle associations.
He also suggested there was no need for military vehicles to be exempt as they could use designated routes.
Cllr Lewis Simpson said: “My constituents suffer an ever-diminishing apology of a bus service.
“I hope all this consultation is not an excuse for inaction.”
Almond and Earn councillor Henry Anderson was concerned rural areas would be left with the old diesel-guzzling buses whilst all the low hybrid buses would be used in Perth. Mr Valentine said he had raised that very issue.
Chief executive Karen Reid has asked officers to report back with actions the council is going to take.
After the meeting, Cllr Bob Brawn, who during the meeting shared he had experience of low emission zones in London, said: “Although only a consultation exercise, and no decision has been made, I expressed caution over the concept of low emission zones at this time.
“Such a project would require a sizeable investment in digital technology with number plate recognition on all roads into any proposed zone.
“The only way to recoup such investment would be to charge as vehicles enter and, if necessary, issue penalty notices.
“However, we are in the midst of change, albeit slow at present, from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles.
“This change is bound to grow faster as time progresses and my concern is that by the time any such zone is in place, there will be so many low or zero emission vehicles that revenue will fall and cost will never be recovered – the system will be obsolete.”