Dundee City Council makes more than £29,000 in first month of low emission zone

More than 2,000 fines were issued in the first month of Dundee’s low emission zone (LEZ), according to figures obtained by STV News.

Enforcement began in Dundee on May 30, preventing certain diesel and petrol vehicles from entering the city centre.

A freedom of information request by STV News has revealed 2,143 penalty charge notices were issued in the first month of enforcement, with the local authority gathering more than £29,000 in fines.

Businesses report reduced footfall

Hofn coffee shop is situated at the heart of Dundee’s LEZ.

The business opened in January, just four months before the scheme started to be enforced.

Footfall has fallen, but bosses say they’ll continue to monitor the situation in the coming months, when university students return from their summer break.

Calum Whyte told STV News: “Our footfall has decreased slightly, but I think with the factor of students leaving, it has decreased a little bit. We’ve noticed there has been a decrease in the amount of cars coming through town.

“There’s not as much traffic now, there aren’t as many big lorries coming through with deliveries. A slight decrease, nothing too much though.”

The low emission zone bans certain diesel and petrol vehicles from all streets within the city centre ring road, depending on their age.

It’s estimated around 12% of Dundee’s daily traffic doesn’t comply with the new rules, and any breaches will lead to a £60 fine.

Professor calls for LEZ schemes to be expanded across UK

Professor Jill Belch from Dundee University’s school of medicine has advocated the expansion of low emission zones throughout the UK.

She says young people are suffering irreparable damage to their lungs due to vehicle pollution.

As Dundee’s low emission zone prepares to enter its third month, businesses are keeping a close eye on the number of customers coming through their doors this summer, while the city council keeps the wheels turning on their LEZ enforcement.

Dundee City Council says there has been a small reduction in the number of penalty charge notices issued and the local authority are carefully monitoring the situation.

Around 70% of fines have been paid or appealed with the money used to facilitate the scheme.

It’s also providing free parking out with the zone at weekends – at the Olympia and Greenmarket multi-storey car parks – in a bid to encourage more motorists to use them.