Council spends £2,000 a day so fleet complies with low emission zone

The City of Edinburgh Council is having to fork out £2,000 a day for replacement rental vehicles to comply with its own low emission zone (LEZ).

The LEZ was introduced in Edinburgh in May 2022, with Euro 4 petrol cars and vans, and Euro 6 diesel cars and vans, only able to enter the zone.

A two-year grace period came to an end this summer, with fines now being issued for non-compliant vehicles from June 1.

Older cars and vans face an initial fine of up to £60, with a second infringement costing £120, a third £240, and a fourth and any subsequent penalties costing £480.

However, despite assurances that the council would be operating a fully compliant fleet by the time fines started to be issued, it has been forced to rent replacement vehicles while long-term solutions are found.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed that 35 of the council’s vehicles were non-compliant, with it having to rent 41 replacement vehicles.

The cost to the council of the rental vehicles, according to the FOI, is £2,055 per day, while it has spent £4.1 million on replacing 172 vans to ensure compliance.  

Transport and environment convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor Scott Arthur, said: “Whilst this situation is not ideal it’s important to note that the vast majority of the council vehicle fleet, some 96.5%, are compliant with the LEZ and we’re working hard to increase this to our full fleet.

“Any vehicle that is not compliant, is not operating within the LEZ.

“I’d also highlight that most of the vehicles that we needed to rent are specialist and more difficult to procure, hence the delay in securing permanent replacements.”

First enforcement figures for Edinburgh’s LEZ released

The council has released the first penalty charge notice (PCN) figures since the LEZ came into force in the capital.

They show that 6,030 PCNs were issued during June 2024, with 5,756 first time penalties and 274 PCNs for a second contravention. There were no penalties issued for further levels third or fourth contraventions.

Arthur said: “Whilst our objective is to ultimately see zero non-compliant vehicles enter our LEZ, I’m conscious that this is a process which will take time to fully materialise.

“I was encouraged to see the relatively low level of second contraventions in the figures alongside none for further levels. This shows clearly that people are getting used to the LEZ and modifying their transport habits accordingly.”

He added: “Any revenue that we generate from the LEZ will be reinvested into the running of the zone, with any surplus funds supporting the LEZ’s wider goals. 

“These ambitious goals include achieving net zero, accommodating sustainable growth, cutting congestion, and improving air quality, amongst other commitments to create a safer and more people-friendly city. Edinburgh is a city with big ideas for the future and the LEZ forms a key part of these.”

It is anticipated that the LEZ will significantly reduce harmful emissions of nitrogen dioxide from vehicles. A map of the LEZ is available on the council’s website.