Car ban could kill off city centre, say drivers’ groups

Transport: Outcry as councillors order study over pollution problem

Drivers’ groups have warned that introducing a car ban on some of Aberdeen’s most-polluted streets could “kill off” the city centre.

Councillors have ordered a study into whether gasguzzling cars and lorries could be forced to pay to enter designated “low emission zones” – or even denied access altogether.

It is understood the scheme – which would be the first in Scotland – could cost as much as £10million.

Town House sources indicate the streets included could be Union Street, Wellington Road and Market Street, all of which suffer issues with poor air quality.

The idea has cross-party approval and Scottish environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham has also urged councils to implement the zones.

But last night angry drivers’ groups said the plan could “damage” citycentre shopping, with shoppers taking their money to out-of-town shops with easy parking.

In January, a Friends of the Earth report revealed that Union Street, Wellington Road and King Street all rank among the most polluted in Scotland.

Earlier this month it was revealed that the city is also considered the third most congested in the UK, according to a study by traffic information company Inrix.

Aberdeen even eclipsed London for congestion at peak periods last year as the hardest city to get into or out of, with drivers stuck in gridlock 24% of the time, moving at an average of 5.5mph.

Low Emission Zones have been used in 200 European cities across 13 countries and can take a variety of forms, from restricting access for vehicles with high emissions to introducing tariffs based on emission levels.

Neil Greig, of the Institute of Advance Motorists, said: “If they don’t make it easy for people to get into the city centre, then people will choose to go elsewhere. You have to target the worst pollution. But you also have to make sure you don’t damage the economy of the city.

“Heavy vehicles like lorries contribute a lot to the economy of Aberdeen and also city-centre retail is needed.”

A spokesman for the Association of British Drivers said the plan was “plain daft”.

He said: “The irony is that councils are responsible for a lot of the congestion – they produce bus lanes and cycle lanes and restrict parking which holds up drivers.

“Local businesses die if you stop people having access to city centres. It is a sure way to kill off a city centre.”

Council transport spokesman Ross Grant said: “To date no Scottish city has introduced a low emission zone but as a local authority we have demonstrated our ability to innovate and are keen to lead the way if a strong business case can be demonstrated.

“We await the findings of officers but in principle it is clear low emission zones could be of great benefit to the city, where air quality has been an issue of concern despite a variety of positive moves to make improvements.”

Barney Crockett, who leads the city’s hydrogen transport project, said the public “wouldn’t believe” how quickly the city was going to change.

He said: “Firstly, this is at an early stage and it needn’t be assumed the zones will be in the city centre.

“The key to the city centre will be parking and I’m sure that any business case prepared will take in the objectives of the city-centre masterplan.

“For the most part, Aberdeen’s streets are among the cleanest in Europe.

“But we have to look to the future, the speed of change in the city I think will really surprise people in the coming years.”

Officers have been instructed to report back to full council in June with their initial findings.

“Heavy vehicles like lorries contribute a lot to the economy of Aberdeen”

TRAFFIC TROUBLE: Heavily-polluted streets like Market Street in Aberdeen could become a ‘low emission zone’ according to reports