Businesses are being warned that they could lose funding today ahead of new changes to the controversial Low Emission Zones in place across Scotland.
Four Low Emission Zones can be found in Scotland - Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow - and aim to reduce pollution by cracking down on petrol and diesel vehicles.
Petrol vehicles must meet minimum emissions standards of Euro 4 (generally registered after 2006) and Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans (generally registered from September 2015).
The initial penalty charge for a non-compliant vehicle driving into a LEZ charging area is £60, although this can be reduced by 50 per cent if paid within 14 days.
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Businesses have just a few hours left to apply for certain grants
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Penalty charges double with each subsequent breach of the rules in the same LEZ, with these being capped at £480 for cars and light goods vehicles, while minibuses, buses, coaches and HGVs must pay £960.
Drivers were given probationary periods where they would receive warning letters rather than being slapped with fines, with further grants available for those wanting to get rid of their older, more polluting vehicles.
The Low Emission Zone Support Fund for Businesses is available to Scottish micro businesses and sole traders, who can apply for a £2,000 grant.
This is given when they dispose of a vehicle which does not comply with the Low Emission Zone standards in the four Scottish cities.
Eligibility criteria requires micro businesses and sole traders to dispose of a non-compliant vehicle through a SEPA-authorised treatment facility within 20 kilometres of the LEZ.
After they dispose of the vehicle and claim the grant, they can apply for a further £1,000 in funding to purchase a cargo or eCargo bike to support their operations.
However, the Scottish Government's Business Support website states that funding is available on a "first come, first served basis" until March 31, 2025.
Several other grants and exemptions were also in place to help motorists and business owners deal with the financial impact of the Low Emission Zones.
The Low Emission Zone Retrofit Fund involved investment from the Energy Saving Trust to retrofit non-compliant vehicles owned by micro businesses within a 20km radius of a LEZ.
Similarly, the Low Emission Zone Support Fund for Households provided people with up to £3,000 towards the safe disposal of non-compliant vehicles near Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Applications for the Scottish Bus Emissions Abatement Retrofit Fund (BEAR) came to an end in October 2023, with the vast majority of funding going to Lothian Buses.
The company received £1.73million towards 18 buses or coaches, followed by Coast to Coast Travel Ltd (£190,000), Moffat and Williamson Ltd (£133,000) and Keneil Coaches (£133,000).
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Supporters of the Glasgow Low Emission Zone protesting for the LEZ to be introduced immediately GETTYSince 2019, the Scottish Government has provided over £13million through the Low Emission Support Fund to dispose of more than 4,000 non-compliant vehicles.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said: "LEZs are a vital public health measure and by providing financial assistance to people and businesses that need it most, we're ensuring that the transition to wider LEZ enforcement happens in a fair way."
