A driver was hit with a penalty fine after entering Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone - despite being exempt.

Robert Grey was “confused” after being slapped with a £30 fine for driving over the King George V bridge in Commerce Street in the city centre on December, 18 last year.

The 47-year-old, from Townhead, said he was given a “period of grace” from the local authority, allowing him to drive his white Volkswagen in the LEZ area between June 2023 and May 2024. 

Glasgow Times: Robert showed the Glasgow Times an application giving him a period of grace for the LEZ Robert showed the Glasgow Times an application giving him a period of grace for the LEZ (Image: Sourced)

The Glasgow Times has seen the e-mail he was sent which confirms this.

Now he is terrified that the “unfair” debt will damage his chances of getting a mortgage if it is escalated.

Glasgow Times: Robert was given a fine seen by the Glasgow TimesRobert was given a fine seen by the Glasgow Times (Image: Sourced)

 

Robert told the Glasgow Times: “The situation has gotten stressful because I should never have been fined, it is unfair.

“I reviewed a penalty notice for breaching the LEZ which confused me as I have an exception.

“Since New Year I have been constantly trying to contact the council but haven’t managed to sort this out.

“I am worried that they will send this to a debt collection company as I am saving for a mortgage at the moment.

“The fine is £30 but I shouldn’t have to pay it, how many other people are getting wrongly fined then ignored when they try to resolve it?”

Glasgow Times: Robert Grey was fined for being in the LEZ Robert Grey was fined for being in the LEZ (Image: Sourced)

After the Glasgow Times asked the council why Robert had been charged they cancelled the penalty and apologised.

The LEZ was introduced in June 2023 to help reduce levels of harmful vehicle emissions in the city centre, as these can trigger health problems.

Now all vehicles entering the area must now meet the less-polluting emission standards, or face a penalty charge.

The fines for driving into the zone, which is the city centre, can go as high as £960 for certain vehicles.

Glasgow Times: Robert was wrongly finedRobert was wrongly fined (Image: Newsquest)

However, a grace period allows zone residents, like Robert, extra time to comply.

For vehicles registered to a residential property LEZ enforcement will not start until 1 June 2024.

A council spokesperson said: “As a residents’ exemption has been granted for this vehicle until the end of May, the Penalty Charge Notice should not have been issued.

"We will contact the vehicle owner to advise that the fine has been cancelled.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”