WIRRAL drivers who leave the engine running while their car is stationary could soon be hit with a £20 fine.

The new measures are due to be approved by councillors next week, and would mean drivers who fail to turn off their engine after being asked by an officer would be hit with a fixed penalty notice.

It’s in a bid to crack down on the “unnecessary use of fuel” and noise pollution caused by cars left running, although the council is aware the new rules “may not be universally popular”.

The change is recommended for approval by full council on March 19, following a report referred from the environment overview and scrutiny committee, who met in November.

The report explained: “Air pollution is associated with a number of adverse health impacts. It is recognised as a contributing factor in the onset of heart disease and cancer.

“Additionally, air pollution particularly affects the most vulnerable in society: children and older people, and those with heart and lung conditions. There is also often a strong correlation with equalities issues, because areas with poor air quality are also often the less affluent areas.

“Idling engines unnecessarily add to pollution, particularly in congested urban environments which affects the quality of air that the community is exposed to.”

The report said a fixed penalty notice would only be issued if the driver refused to switch off their engine after being requested to do so.

The enforcement would be “limited” to reacting to evidence-based complaints, or as part of a planned project targeting “idling hotspots”, like taxi ranks and roads around schools.

And it follows 17 complaints submitted to council over the issue during the past three years, but because the local authority could only issue “informal advice”, it did not result in any “behavioural change”.

The report said: “It is felt that the lack of enforcement power also undermine the message given during interventions by officers.”

If adopted, it would be enforced by environmental health or licensing officers, and would see an “educational campaign” launched.

The report also said although legislation enabling councils to formally address idling engines was introduced in 2002, Wirral did not deem it necessary to adopt the legislation until recently.

It said the new rules will support the Wirral Plan 2020 – 20 pledges made by the local authority in 2015, focussed on protecting the vulnerable, driving economic growth and improving the local environment.

The report quoted that environment section, saying: “Working to reduce levels of inequality, particularly in relation to health, remains of paramount importance to this council.

“We want all of our residents to have a good quality of life and live healthy lifestyles in clean and safe environments.”

It will also mean an “in-house” policy for council vehicles and staff using their own cars for work purposes to switch off their engines when parked.

The council has not breached any national air quality objectives and so has not been required to declare any area as requiring air quality management, the report said.

It added: “The introduction of anti-idling legislation may not be universally popular.

“However, environmental health officers and other relevant services will be undertaking an educational campaign to raise awareness of the legislation and the reasons behind it, to encourage changes in behaviour.

“Following the educational campaign, a graduated enforcement approach would be considered before the issuing of a penalty notice.”

Wirral Council was contacted for further comment about the new rules.

Cllr Phillip Brightmore, Cabinet member for Environment, said: "What we are looking to do is adopt powers that we have had available to us for a number of years now and which a number of other authorities are already using.

"The emphasis would be much more on education rather than enforcement - raising awareness amongst drivers - particularly drivers of taxis, vans or buses who might be stopped with their engines idling for lengths of time - of the impact that could have on the environment. It is just one idea that we are bringing to improve air quality in the borough and protect our environment, which is one of our top priorities.

"The power to issue a £20 fixed penalty notice will be there, but will only be enforced in a situation where a driver refuses to switch off their engine after receiving advice from and being requested to by an authorised council officer.

"At the same time, as a council we will be leading the way on this issue by introducing an in-house policy for those who drive as part of their duties to switch off engines when parked."