‘It’s insult to injury ...LEZ is a failure’
disclosure as ‘outrageous’. Meanwhile, one air quality expert told us: ‘Buses are the largest source of nitrogen dioxide, not cars.
‘It brings into question the rationale for this policy.’
The LEZ is an SNP Government policy, with a ‘Leadership Group’ co-chaired by Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop and Net Zero Secretary-Mairi McAllan.
The imposition of the Glasgow scheme is the responsibility of its SNP-led council, which states on its website that ‘harmful nitrogen dioxide is being recorded in our city centre at levels that do not meet the legal requirements’.
However, we can reveal that not only was this pollutant within legal limits across the whole of Scotland last year, monitoring at a key site within the Glasgow LEZ shows it has recently increased.
For June, July and August in 2022, the nitrogen dioxide level on the city’s Hope Street was an average of 31 micrograms per cubic metre. Yet for the same period this year it was 34. The legal limit is 40.
The air quality expert, who did not wish to be named, added: ‘Buses are the main polluters, hence the reason levels remain more or less the same as before, and therefore you have to question the point of banning cars given all the cost, disruption and inconvenience.’
A report by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on the
‘Those affected will be asking serious questions’
Glasgow LEZ states: ‘Analysis indicates that along the main bus routes within the city centre NOx (nitrogen oxide and dioxide) from buses and coaches make the biggest contribution to total NOx.’
Another pollutant, known as fine particulate matter, was also higher in Hope Street since the LEZ began. It averaged 5.8 micrograms per cubic metre across June, July and August, compared with 5.2 for the same period in 2022.
The astonishing statistics are published on the Scottish Government’s own air quality website.
Scottish Tory deputy transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: ‘Glasgow’s LEZ has been ineptly-introduced and imposed. Those affected will be asking serious questions given it appears to be having little effect on air quality.
‘If the figures are worse, that has to be seen as a failure. It’s had a huge effect on businesses and the very least the public deserve is that the environmental benefits outweigh the economic costs.’
We told last month how Glasgow City Council spent around £100,000 of taxpayers’ cash hiring vehicles to replace those in its fleet which do not meet its own LEZ standard.
The money was spent despite the council telling the public they have had ‘years’ to get compliant with the new rules, which ban most diesel cars and vans registered before 2015 and pre-2006 petrol vehicles.
One businessman, William Paton, whose auto-repair centre within the LEZ has been badly hit by the ban on older cars, said: ‘This latest revelation adds insult to injury.
‘We have known for some time pollution levels are already within legal limits. These statistics show quite clearly the LEZ is a failure.
‘We made every preparation to comply. The only thing we asked for was some form of exemption for vehicles needing repairs, which was denied.’ Mr Paton is pressing ahead with a judicial review of the LEZ with a hearing set for the Court of Session in October, which could rule the scheme unlawful.
We can also reveal Glasgow CityCouncil admits having ‘no records’ on any reductions in emissions achieved as a result of its LEZ.
Businessman Sandy Duckett obtained the admission as part of a freedom of information request.
He said: ‘It appears from Scottish Government air quality reports legal targets on pollution have been met since last year. It makes you question the objectives of an LEZ purporting to be about air quality.’
Glasgow City Council claims the weather could be responsible for pollution increasing in the LEZ.
A spokesman said: ‘Pollution levels are highly variable and dependent on a number of factors, including weather patterns.
‘It will, therefore, be some time before the benefits of the LEZ can be reported.’