Petrol and diesel drivers have been refusing to back the Low Emission Zone in place across Aberdeen by deliberately not paying fines, with more than half a million pounds remaining outstanding in what critics call a “kamikaze” scheme.
Drivers across the Scottish city have failed to pay approximately £561,000 in Low Emission Zone penalties during the first nine months of the clean air scheme, according to a new council committee report. The zone, which prohibits older petrol and diesel vehicles from designated city centre areas, generated £1.23 million in Penalty Charge Notices after operational costs between June 2024 and March 2025.
The mass non-payment represents nearly half of all fines issued, suggesting widespread resistance to the controversial scheme that has divided opinion in Scotland’s third-largest city. Unlike London’s ULEZ, Aberdeen’s scheme does not operate through daily charges but instead issues drivers of non-compliant vehicles a £60 penalty for travelling through the LEZ, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.
Strict Emission Standards Catch Thousands
To meet the LEZ rules, petrol vehicles must comply with Euro 4 standards, generally those registered from 2006 onwards, whilst diesel cars must meet Euro 6 requirements, typically from September 2015 onwards. The zone operates continuously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, enforced through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras positioned throughout the city centre.
The LEZ officially began operation on 1 June 2024, following a two-year grace period from May 2022 designed to allow motorists time to upgrade their vehicles. However, the first nine months have seen the least compliance from drivers, with thousands choosing to ignore the penalties rather than pay up.
Despite the resistance, vehicle adherence to emission standards has increased significantly, rising from 82 per cent in 2023 to 89 per cent by 2025. This seven percentage point improvement indicates growing awareness and adaptation among motorists to the environmental restrictions, though the unpaid fines suggest many remain unconvinced by the scheme’s merits.
Council Faces Financial Shortfall
The declining penalty numbers suggest that whilst some drivers have opted to purchase electric vehicles or compliant cars, others have chosen alternative routes to avoid the restricted areas entirely. This pattern presents a financial challenge for Aberdeen City Council, which must maintain the enforcement infrastructure regardless of income.
Council officials explained that they anticipate this trend will persist, potentially reducing future enforcement revenue whilst operational expenses for cameras and signage remain fixed or potentially increase. The maintenance and eventual replacement of enforcement equipment represents an ongoing cost that must be covered regardless of compliance rates.
A spokesperson for Aberdeen City Council said: “The council must accrue any expected but unpaid income at the end of each financial year, in compliance with accounting practice. This includes income related to PCNs.” The spokesperson added that the quoted unpaid amount “represents the difference between this accrued position, and the cash position for financial year 2024/25”.
Environmental Funds Allocated Despite Shortfall
Transport Scotland regulations dictate that any surplus from enforcement activities must support the zone’s environmental objectives. The funding must either cover operational expenses or deliver projects that enhance air quality and reduce transport emissions within the designated area.
According to official documents, Aberdeen City Council has committed £321,000 from the available surplus of LEZ penalties towards environmental improvements. This allocation has proceeded despite the significant shortfall in collected fines, raising questions about the scheme’s financial sustainability.
Councillors also approved £200,000 in March 2025 for establishing a bicycle rental programme, with procurement currently underway for a new operator. The investment in alternative transport options forms part of the council’s broader strategy to reduce vehicular traffic in the city centre.
Political Backlash Intensifies
The scheme has attracted fierce criticism from political opponents who argue it is damaging Aberdeen’s economy and deterring visitors from the city centre. Ross Thomson, former MP for Aberdeen South, delivered a scathing assessment of the SNP-led council’s transport policies.
Thomson warned that Aberdeen’s SNP council is on a “kamikaze mission to kill what’s left of our city centre. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he stated: “From bus gates to the LEZ – now the UK’s highest tourist tax,” linking the emission zone to other controversial policies he believes are harming local businesses.
Reform Councillor Duncan Massey echoed these concerns, stating: “The LEZ and bus gates are still reducing visitors to the city centre. The ongoing confusion about the measure continues to drive away visitors, even from successful businesses outside the impacted area.”
Record Number of Fines Issued
Data obtained by The Press and Journal reveals the scale of enforcement, with 24,874 fines issued between June 2024 and January 2025. This includes 18,761 first-time offenders who received the standard £60 penalty, potentially generating over £1.1 million in fines.
More concerning for authorities, 6,113 repeat offenders have been caught breaking the rules, with 1,469 vehicles receiving the maximum PCN 5 penalty. These highest-level charges, capped at £480 for cars and £960 for larger vehicles, indicate persistent non-compliance from a core group of drivers.
The penalty system doubles with each subsequent breach, starting at £60 for the first offence and escalating to £120, £240, and eventually capping at £480 for cars. The escalating fines reset to the base figure if no further breaches occur within a 90-day period.
Appeals Process Under Scrutiny
Almost half of all appeals against LEZ fines have been successful, according to council data, suggesting potential issues with signage, enforcement, or public understanding of the scheme. Critics have argued that unclear signage and the zone’s proximity to the harbour have caught out unsuspecting motorists.
Some residents and visitors have complained about being trapped within the zone with “no possibility of escape” once they realise they’ve entered the restricted area. The high success rate of appeals has fuelled arguments that the scheme’s implementation has been flawed from the outset.
The appeals process has become a significant administrative burden for the council, requiring staff time and resources to process challenges whilst simultaneously pursuing unpaid fines through debt collection procedures.
Comparison with Other Scottish Cities
Aberdeen’s experience mirrors challenges faced by other Scottish cities implementing Low Emission Zones. Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee have all introduced similar schemes as part of Scotland’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2045.
However, Aberdeen’s enforcement figures appear particularly high compared to other cities. In Dundee’s first six months of enforcement, 9,100 fines were issued, whilst Aberdeen issued 23,073 in the same period – a difference of nearly 14,000 penalties.
The disparity raises questions about whether Aberdeen’s zone boundaries, signage, or enforcement approach differs significantly from other Scottish cities, potentially explaining the higher violation rates and payment resistance.
Business Impact Concerns
Local businesses have expressed concern about the cumulative impact of the LEZ alongside other traffic management measures, including controversial bus gates that restrict vehicle access to certain streets. Shop owners report decreased footfall as customers choose to shop elsewhere rather than navigate the complex restrictions.
The scheme’s critics argue that the environmental benefits are outweighed by economic damage to an already struggling city centre. With many retailers facing challenges from online shopping and out-of-town retail parks, additional barriers to access risk accelerating decline.
Tourism operators have also raised concerns, particularly given Aberdeen’s role as a gateway to the Scottish Highlands and its importance to the offshore energy sector, which brings significant business travel to the city.
Environmental Objectives Remain Priority
Despite the financial and political challenges, council officials maintain that the LEZ scheme aims to enhance urban green spaces, promote sustainable transport alternatives, and improve air quality within the designated Air Quality Management Area where population exposure remains high.
The zone covers a central area around Union Street, including the historic Castlegate area to the east. Four city centre car parks fall within the LEZ boundaries: Chapel Street, Ship Row, Queen Street, and Justice Mill Lane, requiring all vehicles entering these facilities to be compliant.
Certain vehicles are exempt from restrictions, including emergency service vehicles, historic vehicles over 30 years old, and vehicles for disabled passengers. The council can also grant time-limited exemptions for specialist vehicles unsuitable for replacement or retrofit.
Future Viability Questions
The significant non-payment rate raises fundamental questions about the scheme’s long-term viability. If drivers continue to refuse payment and successfully avoid enforcement action, the deterrent effect of fines diminishes, potentially undermining the environmental objectives.
Council officers must now balance pursuing unpaid fines through legal action against the cost and resources required for debt recovery. With operational costs remaining fixed or increasing, the financial model appears increasingly unsustainable without improved compliance.
The pattern of resistance in Aberdeen may embolden opponents of similar schemes elsewhere, potentially complicating Scotland’s broader environmental strategy. As cities across the UK consider clean air zones, Aberdeen’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about public acceptance and enforcement challenges.
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Image Credit:
Aberdeen electric — photo by Colin Smith, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
