18 million UK cars set to be banned from city centres in SNP ‘green’ war
SNP WILL BAN 1M CARS FROM CITY CENTRES
AN astonishing 18 million vehicles from around the UK are to be banned from Scotland’s cities under the SNP’s new anti-pollution plan.
Low Emission Zones (LEZs) coming into force in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee will see drivers of older cars, motorbikes or vans fined £60 if they venture into city centres.
We revealed earlier this month how a million vehicles in Scotland will be barred from the four cities due to the LEZs. However, figures show the policy will also hit around 18 million vehicles across the UK, prompting a warning from critics of a devastating impact on trade and tourism.
Previous roads policies, such as bus lane enforcement, have seen drivers from outside cities disproportionately hit by fines as they are unaware of local regulations.
Luke Bosdet, of the AA’s motoring policy unit, said: ‘Those drivers’ unfamiliarity with the streets leaves them easy prey for poor signage and road layout, leading to cameras catching them. If the same happens with the LEZ signage, it really wouldn’t be a shock.’
Local authorities claim the LEZ restrictions will ‘only’ affect tens of thousands of vehicles.
However, DVLA figures show 12.5 million diesel cars in Britain were registered before 2015 and 5.8 million petrol cars were registered before the 2006 cut-off date.
Mr Bosdet said: ‘Council projections on affected vehicles underestimate the impact by a very large margin.
‘It would be better to allow people to drive existing cars until they need replaced. But then it wouldn’t be the big money-spinner from daily charges, nor would it be the councils’ opportunity to price poor people with cars off city roads and send tourists home with a whopping great fine to remember their visit.’
Motorists will be fined £60 every time they are caught in the LEZs. The move has been condemned as a hammer blow for city economies and residents. It will also disproportionately affect motorists on lower incomes who are likely to have older cars.
It is the latest in a string of measures, including the workplace parking levy, unveiled by the SNP-Green government that will hit drivers in the pocket. LEZs were formally adopted on May 31 but there is a grace period for fine enforcement until next year for Glasgow and 2024 for the other cities.
Brian Gregory, of the Alliance of British Drivers, said: ‘Thousands will face huge fines.’ A VisitScotland spokesman advised tourists to ‘know before they go’.
City of Edinburgh council transport convener Scott Arthur said: ‘The LEZ will restrict the most polluting vehicles, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by a predicted 55 per cent in the zone.’
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: ‘If you have a non-compliant vehicle and don’t wish to replace it or use public transport you could park outside the LEZ and walk to your final destination.’
‘Send tourists home with a whopping great fine’