Thanet council Cabinet members will discuss whether to approve new powers to fine motorists who allow their engine to tick over while stationary -known as idling.
Thanet council says the move would mean enforcement officers could issue Fixed Penalty Notices and say it is part of the drive to tackle traffic-related air pollution.
The proposals will be considered by the Cabinet when they meet on Thursday 30 May and if approved, would be introduced around schools and within Air Quality Management Areas.
A report to councillors notes one air quality area – St Lawrence to Shah Place Ramsgate- was declared in June 2023 as likely exceeding the annual average Air Quality Objective for nitrogen dioxide.
The report says the council is currently developing an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) to tackle vehicle emissions in Ramsgate.
The council says the aim is to focus primarily on education and raising public awareness rather than enforcement, but where advice has been ignored, the new powers would mean officers could issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £20, rising to £40 if not paid within 28 days.
The recommendations within the report ask the Cabinet to:
- Approve the implementation and enforcement of provisions relating to anti-idling as laid down by the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002.
- Delegate authority to the Director of Environment to authorise relevant officers or persons to stop idling offences and issue fixed penalty notices
- Agree for Fees & Charges for 2024/25 to be varied to reflect this decision; with new charges for Vehicle Emissions Fixed Penalty Notices of £20, rising to £40 if not paid within 28 days.
The report to councillors says: “It is widely recognised that emissions from vehicles play a large part in poor air quality which can exacerbate health problems such as heart and lung disease. As well as emitting NO2 and particulates, vehicle fumes also contain CO2 which contributes towards climate change.
“The Parking and Environmental Protection Teams also receive complaints about idling vehicles outside schools and other locations from time to time. The adoption of these Regulations and the ability for FPNs to be served will enable a greater awareness of the issues arising from leaving vehicle engines running, and potentially an improvement in air quality in local areas.”
Cabinet Member for Community Services, Cllr Heather Keen, said: “The council is committed to doing what we can to protect our environment. Although we’re fortunate that Thanet has good air quality, at peak times when traffic builds up, so does associated pollution from burning fossil fuels.
“The morning rush hour is of particular concern as children are exposed to roadside pollutants on their way to school.
“Leaving engines to idle not only burns climate changing fossil fuels, it also produces nitrogen dioxide and fine particles exposing children with asthma and older people with respiratory conditions to the harmful effects of pollution.
“Introducing these new powers will provide the opportunity to raise public awareness around these issues and crucially, if drivers don’t comply, will mean we can take action to address this. I will be strongly encouraging my Cabinet colleagues to approve the proposals.”
Thanet Green Party leader Cllr Mike Garner said: “”I am pleased that Thanet District Council is going to take forward our proposal to follow the lead of other progressive councils in the UK and consider asking enforcement officers to issue fixed penalty notices to car drivers when they witness a car idling and issue a fine of £40 if they refuse to turn their engine off.
“I asked Cllr Keen to consider this at the full council meeting in February earlier this year and I am hopeful that the proposal will be ratified at Thursday’s cabinet meeting.
“The Royal College of Physicians estimate that 40,000 deaths a year in the UK are linked to air pollution, with engine idling contributing to this by increasing the amount of exhaust fumes in the air. Any steps we can take to reduce this number is a step in the right direction.”
However, Thanet Conservatives leader Reece Pugh branded the plan as a ‘semi-ULEZ’ for Thanet.
He said: “The health and wellbeing of Thanet residents is paramount and we all want to see the environment around us be protected and enhanced but these proposals are nothing more than creating a semi-ULEZ scheme in Thanet.
“I question how this will be enforced considering TDC is struggling to recruit parking enforcement officers and has been for some time.
“TDC should be focusing on enforcing the powers it already has to tackle littering and antisocial behaviour, not penalising parents who are picking up their children from school.”
