The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Concern motorists will pay price over ‘unclear’ LEZ signs
Aberdeen City Council has reassured motorists that signs for the low emission zone (LEZ) “will be clear”.
The LEZ, due to launch on June 1, will be the jointthird implemented across Scotland.
Glasgow’s launched in June 2023, Edinburgh will begin its restrictions on the same day as the Granite City, with Dundee’s coming into force a day earlier on May 31.
Scotland’s four LEZs are the toughest and most penalising in the UK, with an outright ban on vehicles that do not comply.
Fines of £60 – reduced to £30 if paid with 14 days – will be issued to motorists who drive in Aberdeen’s LEZ in a non-compliant vehicle.
The city council is paying £600,000 to prepare for it, including cameras and signs to cover its 36 entry points.
In London, where drivers have to fork out £12.50 for driving in its ultra low emission zone in a noncompliant vehicle, there have been concerns that the signs do not meet road regulations by their failure to explicitly warn drivers of the charges.
A previous case saw scaffolder Noel Wilcox take Transport for London (TfL) to court after he was fined £11,500 for not paying seven tickets in the capital.
His penalties were later cancelled after he successfully argued that TfL’s signs failed to warn motorists that they were entering a charging zone that is applicable 24 hours a day.
Glasgow’s LEZ signs, on which the Aberdeen ones will be modelled, have no mentions of fines on them.
Conservative councillor Duncan Massey, who sits on Aberdeen City Council’s net zero, environment and transport committee, told The Press and Journal he is “concerned” that the signage will be “very confusing” for drivers.
He said: “Signage is also not clear regarding the potential fines and I believe the potential legal challenges against the London LEZ just adds further confusion.
“I would be very concerned that this could expose the council to further court action and costs.”
The Lower Deeside councillor, who has been a vocal critic of bus gates in the city, is not a supporter of the LEZ and fears that it will take people away from the centre of Aberdeen.
“I think it is a poor policy that is not wanted or needed and is very damaging to the vitality of our city centre,” he said.
“At a time when Aberdeen City Council has a very challenging budget due to underfunding from the SNP government, I believe that these funds could be better used in services that people want, such as road repair, libraries and sports facilities.”
The city council said that the LEZ signs will be legally compliant with the Traffic Signs Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2022.
When asked why there would be no warning on the signs to inform motorists of fines, a council spokeswoman said: “The inclusion of penalty details on signs would add further information which could detract from the primary message and implications of the sign.”