Low emission or ‘no ambition’? The war of words over city’s new weapon against traffic pollution
Air pollution from transport is causing an urgent public health crisis and councils need to show leadership
SCOTLAND’S first low-emission zone (LEZ) will be introduced in Glasgow tomorrow – but campaigners have already said they fear it will not achieve significant change.
The first phase of the LEZ will set emission standards which must be met by 20% of buses which pass through the city centre.
It means local bus services must comply with European emissions standards.
Phase two, applying to all vehicles entering the zone, is to be implemented in December 2022.
The scheme will be enforced through the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
But campaigners say the plan to phase out the dirtiest buses in the city centre over a five-year period will bring almost no change in the first year, and they have criticised the decision not to impose restrictions on all other vehicles until 2022.
Air pollution campaigner Gavin Thomson said: “The toxic, illegal levels of air pollution in Glasgow cause hundreds of premature deaths and life- limiting conditions.
“Unfortunately, the weak terms of this low-emission zone – only applying to one in five buses – won’t achieve any significant change for air quality.
“This ‘no ambition zone’ means fumes from transport in the centre of Glasgow will carry on poisoning people’s lungs for many more years.
“Around 18% of buses in Glasgow already met the emission standards before the zone was decided, so there will be very little change in the fleet.”
Councils in Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen have discussed following Glasgow in bringing in LEZs.
Thomson said councils must be bold in their approach to tackling pollution.
“Private bus operators in Glasgow are getting a free ride while everyone else is suffering the effects of illegal levels of air pollution,” he said.
“Three hundred premature deaths are caused by air pollution in Glasgow every year. We need bolder action by the council, and bus companies need to prioritise people over profits.
“We need our other city councils across Scotland to be bolder than Glasgow.
“With Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen all planning their low- emission zones for 2020, there is an opportunity for cities to set a path to clean air, compel bus companies to clean up their fleet, and remove the worst polluting vehicles from city centres.
“Air pollution from transport is caus-