Ealing Council has warned drivers that from 2 October 2023, the council will start enforcement of vehicle idling across the whole borough.
Drivers will be fined £80, the maximum allowed by law, if they are running a vehicle engine while not in motion.
Signage letting drivers know of the rules and the danger idling causes to the environment appears across the borough and the council says that by switching off, drivers are also saving money.
In a statement, the council said: “It is also cheaper to switch off your engine – idling can cost up to 3p per minute in fuel. If a vehicle idled for 10 minutes per day, within 6 months that would have cost more than £58. Stopping and then restarting your engine creates less pollution than idling for a minute.”
Councillor Peter Mason, leader of Ealing Council: “Leaving car engines running unnecessarily pollutes the air we all breathe, adds to the climate crisis and causes asthma and other lung and heart conditions in both children and adults. Air pollution in our borough is avoidable and all it takes is switching off your engine when your car isn’t moving whenever you can. It makes a huge difference to the air quality.”
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action added: “We are ramping up fines for unnecessary idling to the maximum, and introducing anti-idling enforcement from next month across all of Ealing’s seven towns.”
Councillor Costigan added: “We will continue working with residents, businesses and schools to raise awareness of the health and climate impacts of leaving vehicle engines running, so we can all enjoy cleaner air, longer life and a more sustainable planet.”
Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats told EALING.NEWS: “Air pollution is bad in many areas and can be improved. I spoke at a Council Cabinet meeting two months ago on this. I said that the Council should be wary about fining people if it has not informed and educated people on this topic or else lots of residents will think it is a Labour cash cow. I suggested about 10 areas where there are idling issues I know of and awaiting better signage.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, Neil Reynolds, chair of Ealing Green Party commented: “This is a welcome idea, however it will make little practical difference if is not enforced effectively. The council should carefully consider how this will be enforced to avoid it becoming yet another gimmicky photo opportunity.”
