Businessman Settles Legal Dispute Over Glasgow’s LEZ Scheme
A garage owner, William Paton, has decided to drop his legal challenge against Glasgow’s low emission zone (LEZ) despite his insistence that the environmental scheme is unnecessary.
Paton, who is the director of Patons Accident Repair Centre, initially lost a challenge against the environmental scheme in October last year. He has now confirmed to Glasgow Times that he won’t pursue an appeal, allowing the scheme to proceed without facing any further legal obstacles.
Expressing his discontent, Paton stated, “The council has all the data. They know they have already achieved compliance with air quality standards but still they wanted to push ahead with the LEZ.”
Since June 2023, Glasgow has been the first Scottish city to implement a low emission zone where drivers are fined if their vehicles do not meet specific standards.
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In contrast to London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, where owners of non-compliant cars pay £12.50 per day, Glasgow’s LEZ fines start at £60 and double for subsequent breaches, capping at £480. The cap is set at £960 for minibuses, buses, coaches, and lorries.
Payment of fines within 14 days results in a halved amount. Initially, only non-residents were subject to the fine, but from June 1, residents in the zone driving non-compliant vehicles will also face penalties.
Within the first four months of LEZ enforcement, Glasgow City Council collected £478,560 in penalty charges, emphasizing that the policy aims to address high levels of air pollution for public health protection.
Ongoing disagreements over the scheme’s necessity were highlighted during a two-day court hearing in Edinburgh, which ultimately ruled on Oct. 21, 2023 that Glasgow’s LEZ scheme is proportionate and in the public interest.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council affirmed that the scheme is crucial for public health improvements, stating, “We welcome the dismissal of this appeal which means our LEZ scheme can continue to support essential air quality improvements in the city center.”
Regarding costs incurred during the legal proceedings, the council has requested the court to rule on their recovery of expenses.
Owen Evans, Evgenia Filimianova, and PA Media contributed to this report.
