Move to accelerate clean zone rejected

A move to accelerate a ban on polluting vehicles from Scotland’s first low emission zone has been rejected by Glasgow councillors.

Labour and the Greens had sought to outlaw all but the cleanest engines from the city by April 2021, but the target date will remain December 2022.

The zone (LEZ), which will cover the city centre within the M8 and River Clyde, will be launched on 31 December this year.

Initially, one in five buses will have to have the cleanest engines, increasing on a sliding scale until 2022.

All other vehicles, including cars, will have to have the cleanest engines to enter the zone from 2022.

The cleanest engines are diesel Euro 6, introduced in 2014, and petrol Euro 4, from 2005.

Friends of the Earth Scotland has condemned the plans as a “no ambition zone”. Air pollution campaigner Emilia Hanna said: “The decision means the toxic, illegal levels of air pollution in Glasgow will carry on poisoning people’s lungs for at least fourand-a-half more years.”

But Anna Richardson, city convener for sustainability and carbon reduction, said: “Improving the quality of the air we breathe is a key priority.

“The LEZ will make significant reductions to air pollution in the city centre.

“This will ensure we achieve the improvements in air quality our city deserves.”