The city centre of Edinburgh will be seeing a major rule change in the form of a low emission zone, that will ban older cars that bring harmful gases into the atmosphere.
The final seal of approval is expected this week from the City of Edinburgh Council, and the scheme will aim to decarbonize transport and encourage those local to the centre of town to take less harmful routes to work, school, or play.
The decision will be finalised on Thursday, January 27, and the zone will be introduced by the spring time at the latest.
The zone means that cars of a certain age or model that do not meet the correct emissions standards will not be permitted to enter the zone.
Although a two-year-grace period is to be introduced, those who break the emission zone rules will be subject to hefty fines from 2024.
So, where is this planned low emission zone, and where will it affect the residents of Edinburgh?
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The City of Edinburgh Council have provided a handy map to highlight the whole zone, but Edinburgh Live has picked out the most populated areas, and where people may utilise private transport the most.
In short, the proposed boundary stretches from Palmerston place along Queen Street and down to the bottom of the Royal Mile.
From there, it will run along through Newington, past and including the Meadows, before coming down through Tollcross towards Shandwick Place.
But in long, here is the list of the biggest streets affected by the LEZ:
Princes Street
Probably one of the most notable streets in the capital, Princes Street is slap bang in the centre of both Edinburgh, and this new low emission zone.
This road is popular with buses, trams and mostly those who collect food from the many chain restaurants here, and further up on George Street.
The proposed zone would ban cars from before 2006, buses from before 2013, and diesel vehicles from before 2015 - so it's a good idea to avoid the main thorough-fare in the capital, unless you want a £60 fine!
Lothian Road
Just two-minutes around the corner from the aforementioned street, Lothian Road is extremely busy with cars at most times of the day.
A stone's throw from Edinburgh Castle, and home to many NCP car parks, this road also hosts The Usher Hall - which is where many famous musicians and artists play their trade all year.
The University of Edinburgh's Lauriston Campus is also near Lothian Road, and there are four hotels near this road alone - the busiest being a Novotel and the other a Doubletree by Hilton.
This road is one of the main ways to head into the city centre from the west, so it is best to be aware of the new rules surrounding car standards in the capital.
Leith Street
Although it may just be the top half of the majorly popular street in Edinburgh, this zone has included one of the busiest streets, with the newest shopping centre to boot - St James Quarter.
With the new retail centre operating a car park as well, and the Omni-centre sitting on the opposite side of the road (that also has a Q-Park), this low emission zone will affect a large part of those travelling into the centre for a spot of shopping or new cuisine.
There is also a Travellodge at the tip of this street, and Calton Hill to the right, so many occasional visitors of the capital may feel hard done by when they receive a fine in the post, as these sights are often busy during the summer.
North and South Bridge
The low emission zone will cut out older cars travelling on North and South Bridge, which is directly over Edinburgh's Waverley Station, and to the east of St Giles' Cathedral.
It also includes the roads all around Waverley Station, such as: Waterloo Place, Regent Road, Calton Road, Market Street and Cockburn Street
This means that a good 60 per cent of the neighbourhood of Old Town in the capital will be affected by the zone, with the boundary being cut off at the roads of: Holyrood Road, Pleasance, St Leonard's Street, parts of Regent Road and Abbeyhill.
High Street (Royal Mile)
Not many vehicles grace the Royal Mile, mostly delivery drivers, posties and certain taxis tend to be the only frequent users of this road.
However, the roads surrounding the Royal Mile also are included in this zone, so the closest you'll get in a car older than 2006 will be Melville Drive, at the opposite end of The Meadows to the busy tourist street.
The streets surrounding the Royal Mile that are part of the low emission zone include: George IV Bridge, Chambers Street, Candlemaker Row, Lothian Street, Market Street, North Bank Street and The Mound.
Grassmarket
Now this street is frequented by pubgoers, fans of Harry Potter (see Victoria Street), and lovers of rugby and other sports (see The Three Sisters bar on Cowgate).
So, many taxis, disgruntled parents and significant others tend to frequent this area, as it's a popular place to end up on a work night out - yes, not start with, end up!
So, those being used as a taxi, or actual taxi drivers, better get swotting up on what year their car was born, as an extra £60 on top of petrol money is perhaps the final straw in an argument.
The eco-friendly car guidelines, as shown on Transport Scotland, will be:
- Euro 4 for petrol cars and vans (generally vehicles registered from 2006*)
- Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans (generally vehicles registered from September 2015*)
- Euro VI for buses, coaches and HGVs (generally vehicles registered from January 2013*)
- Mopeds and motorcycles are out with the scope of the current LEZ for Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen
How much will I have to pay?
For all Scotland's LEZs, the charges are set as:
- initial charge will be £60, reduced by 50 per cent, if it is paid within 14 days
- a surcharge will apply where a subsequent breach of the rules is detected
- penalty charges will be capped at
- £480 for cars and light goods vehicles
- £960 for buses and HGVs.
If the driver of the vehicles doesn't breach the rules within the 90 days, the surcharge rate is reset to the initial charge ie £60.
Entry into the LEZ will be based on the Euro emission engine classification standards. The minimum criteria are
- Euro 4 for petrol cars and vans (generally vehicles registered from 2006)
- Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans (generally vehicles registered from September 2015)
- Euro VI for buses, coaches and HGVs (generally vehicles registered from January 2013).
You can check your vehicle on Transport Scotland's online vehicle checker, here.
