Glasgow City Council makes £1m in Low Emission Zone fines in ten months

Glasgow City Council has made more than £1m in fines from its Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) in the first ten months of the scheme.

Figures shared with STV News show the local authority received £1,010,585 from Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) payments up to April 13.

The LEZ came into force on June 1 last year and prevents certain vehicles from entering parts of the city centre.

The council said any revenue raised from the scheme will be reinvested into net-zero and clean-air projects in the city.

The LEZ was introduced in June last year. Glasgow City Council

It said £250,000 had already been identified into “urban greening” with another £250,000 earmarked for community climate action.

The LEZ was set up to cut emissions as well as pollution by stopping older vehicles from entering the city centre.

More than 33,000 PCNs have been issued to people driving non-compliant vehicles in restricted areas with around 3,000 fines issued every month.

Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee are set to introduce their own LEZs in the coming weeks.

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said the Low Emissions Zone is helping to increase air quality in the city.

They said: “Revenue can only be used to support the operation of the LEZ, and projects and activities that either enhance the city’s air quality or help it achieve its net zero targets.

“The council’s recent budget process identified potential to direct £250,000 into urban greening and a further £250,000 to support local community climate action projects.

“However, a more defined picture of the revenue available for projects will only become known following an assessment of operating costs after the LEZ scheme’s first full year of operation.

“Given the range of potential projects which could be supported, an evaluation process will help determine the allocation of resources.”

Scottish Conservative shadow transport minister Graham Simpson MSP said the LEZ was continuing to “hammer hard-pressed motorists”.

“The scheme was shambolically rolled out by the SNP-led council and they have failed to learn any lessons over the past 12 months,” he said.

“We know that nearly 40% the council’s own vehicles are still not compliant yet motorists have been hit to the tune of over £1m in fines.

“It is crucial that other cities who are about to introduce their own low emission zones do not repeat Glasgow’s mistakes while SNP-led Glasgow must be fully upfront about what this money they have raked in is being spent on.”