Drivers to be offered cash to cut emissions
● Trade-in plan for pollution hotspots is not well targeted, say campaigners
Motorists are expected to be offered cash to trade in or modify their diesel vehicles in an attempt to cut emissions in air pollution hotspots.
There are 23 pollution zones in Scotland where the most harmful of diesel emissions are a concern, in the Central Belt, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Aberdeen.
The move, which could be announced as early as tomorrow, is part of the UK government’s new air quality strategy.
Drivers in air pollution hotspots are expected to be offered cash to trade in or modify their diesel cars and vans to cut emissions.
The UK government could announce as early as tomorrow a limited diesel scrappage scheme for cars. Help with retrofitting van engines to make them cleaner would also be offered.
But the news met with a lukewarm response from motoring groups, and opposition from public transport campaigners.
The move is understood to be part of ministers’ new air quality strategy. The government had tried to postpone publishing the details until after the general election. However, the High Court ordered its publication by next Tuesday following a challenge by environmental groups.
The scrappage scheme would be limited to older vehicles registered in areas where air pollution is already at dangerous levels,
There are 23 pollution zones in Scotland where particulates, the most harmful of diesel emissions, are a particular problem. These are in the Central Belt, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Aberdeen.
Phil Gomm, of the RAC Foundation, said: “We see a strong case for retrofitting the biggest, oldest, most polluting buses, lorries and taxis that do the most mileage around our towns and cities. We are less convinced about a car scrappage scheme, even one targeting the oldest models.
“It is one thing identifying where a supposedly ‘dirty diesel’ is registered, but there will be little to no information on where, when and how far it is driven, which is crucial. It is quite possible the most serious polluters are cars only a few years old.”
David Begg, publisher of Transport Times magazine and a former Edinburgh City Council transport convener, said: “In terms of value for taxpayers’ money, retrofitting buses offers 15 times more than a diesel car scrappage scheme.”
Emilia Hanna, air pollution campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “We need a transition away from both diesel and petrol engines, because both cause air pollution and climate change, so a scheme should only be made available if it does not incentivise a switch back from diesel to petrol.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “The plan has not been published, so we can’t speculate on details.”