Scotland’s environmental watchdog has forced ministers’ hand, laying an Improvement Report before Parliament that demands answers on why the law against engine idling isn’t working.
Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) says the current penalty regime, unchanged for over 20 years, is too weak. Idling pumps out nitrogen oxides and particulate matter linked to respiratory disease, heart disease and premature death, with outdoor air pollution blamed for up to 2,700 deaths a year in Scotland.
Local authorities already have powers to order stationary vehicles to switch off and issue Fixed Penalty Notices. But ESS found those penalties are rarely used and no longer work as a deterrent.
Talks with the Scottish Government produced tougher guidance but failed to fix the enforcement gap, so ESS has now invoked its statutory powers to force ministers to act.
Scottish Ministers must publish an Improvement Plan spelling out how they’ll close the gaps. ESS is also demanding annual data from every local authority on idling offences and enforcement, to keep the pressure on.
Mark Roberts, Chief Executive of ESS said: ‘Part of our job is to ensure environmental laws are effective and deliver their intended outcomes.
‘Our work has concluded that the current legal framework intended to tackle engine idling – an avoidable source of air pollution – may not be acting as a strong enough deterrent.
‘By laying this Improvement Report in the Scottish Parliament, we are requiring Scottish Ministers to set out clearly how they will ensure the law here works as intended and helps to reduce harmful emissions.’
Photo: © khunkornStudio / Shutterstock.com.
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