Frustration is rising about the lack of fines and enforcement powers to punish drivers who unnecessarily idle their cars in Reading.

‘Idling’ means leaving a vehicles engine on while stationary, which means fumes from vehicles are emitted despite not moving.

Although idling sometimes cannot be avoided in traffic, there are cases where people leave the engine causing  sulphur dioxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide to be emitted into the atmosphere.

Councillors on both sides of the aisle have expressed frustration about the lack of fines and enforcement powers to tackle idling, with apparently zero fines being issued over the past three years.

The issue was raised by councillor Rob White (Green, Park), the leader of the opposition, who said the emissions are worsening health problems.

In a question to Tony Page, the lead councillor for transport, cllr White asked: “Can the lead councillor update me on recent work to tackle engine idling?

“In particular, how many fines for engine idling have been issued each year for the last three years?”

READ MORE: Reading campaign to crack down on idling 

Cllr Tony Page (Labour, Abbey) replied: “Unfortunately as he and his colleagues have been told umpteen times, the current national legislation in respect of vehicle idling is weak, requiring officers to first ask drivers to turn off their engines.

“Only if the driver refuses can a fixed penalty notice be issued.

“The practical implication of this is that drivers can idle with impunity provided they then turn their engine off when asked.”

Cllr Page added that enforcement against idling would require regular patrols from enforcement officers.

However, he said  ‘there is currently no resource’ for such enforcement.

Fines for idling were introduced in the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) Regulations 2002.

Cllr Page continued: “Idling is part of a bigger issue, and we are presently bidding for funding via Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)’s air quality grant to carry out a wider air quality awareness raising and behaviour change campaign.

“This includes vehicle idling, and other educational initiatives to improve knowledge and decision making, promote mode change and active travel.”

READ MORE: Engine idling warning issued to taxi drivers 

The council’s ‘draft air quality action plan’ is awaiting final approval, with a campaign due to launch to promote enhanced air quality once funding becomes available.

DEFRA is currently accepting bids for its air quality grant scheme for 2022 to 2023.

The deadline for applications was today (Friday, September 23).

No figures for how many people had been issued penalty notices for idling were given.

Cllr White told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he has been left with the assumption that no fines have been issued over the past three years.

He did not ask a supplementary question.

The exchange occurred at the council’s traffic management sub-committee on Wedensday, September 14.