Glasgow Chamber of Commerce's chief executive has raised concerns about the implementation of Low Emission Zones (LEZs), suggesting the policy may make it less attractive to visit Scotland's city centres.
LEZs are formally beginning in four Scottish cities, although enforcement will not begin for at least a year. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee are introducing them in order to improve air quality, with many older vehicles set to be banned.
Grace periods are now in place for the four cities, with enforcement due to begin on different dates.
In Glasgow, the LEZ is already in place for buses and will apply to other vehicles from next June, with the grace period for residents extended to 1 June, 2024.
In Edinburgh and Aberdeen, enforcement will begin on 1 June, 2024. In Dundee, enforcement begins on 30 May, 2024.
Penalties for bringing a non-compliant vehicle into the LEZ will typically be set at £60, halved to £30 if paid early.
Petrol cars and vans will need to have engines at the Euro 4 standard, which generally applies to vehicles registered after 2006. Diesel-powered cars and vans will need to be at the Euro 6 standard, mainly applying to vehicles registered after 2015.
Blue badge holders are exempt from LEZ requirements.
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce leader Stuart Patrick commented: “While we generally welcome and encourage policies supporting a just transition to net zero, businesses and residents alike are rightly concerned that the current policy for the next phase of the LEZ may make it less attractive for many who might otherwise visit the city centre.
“With an already depleted taxi supply, these current measures could further affect those who rely heavily on taxis for transport, especially customers with disability or mobility issues.
“Equally those who work outside of traditional working hours such as in the hospitality, retail and healthcare sectors could face even more barriers in traveling to and from their work.
“The timescales given to Glasgow’s implementation of the LEZ means it is less equipped to handle the negative aspects of the proposal compared to other regions which have offered longer periods to allow the transition.”
He continued: “We understand the taxi sector is keen to support aspirations to reduce emissions however they need more time and support to do this given a lack of viable alternative vehicles and retrofit options.
“We are calling for a longer period of transition and a review of available funding support to allow taxi companies to make the necessary investment to ensure they are compliant, in line with other cities in Scotland.”
Meanwhile, Kevin Lang, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Edinburgh City Council, said the LEZ being introduced in the capital was “too timid in its ambition and too slow in its implementation”.
He said: “In the years to come, the council will look back and regret the LEZ did not go further and faster - this has been a wasted opportunity to deliver a positive step change in tackling the poor air quality which causes so many health issues, particularly in children.”
Edinburgh council’s transport convener Scott Arthur told the PA news agency: “By two years’ time, it should be very clear to people if they’ve got one of these older, more polluting vehicles, that they face a fine if they cross a line as they come into the city centre.”
He said the council wanted to encourage more cycling and walking but public transport would do the “heavy lifting” as people choose to leave their cars at home.
Arthur said the council’s Spaces for People schemes had been “controversial”, but added: “Towards the end of the last administration we agreed a way forward for the schemes which still exist and I’m absolutely committed to making that work.”
Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth commented: “We have a moral responsibility to act - air pollution often disproportionally impacts those with the least in our society.
“LEZs are the biggest change we’ve ever seen in how vehicles will access our cities – and they need to be, in order to best protect public health and improve air quality.”
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