Glasgow’s low emission zone is coming in 2018

Glasgow will be the first Scottish city to introduce a low emission zone next year to combat illegal air pollution levels.

 

The plans mean an area of the city will restrict entry for vehicles with high emissions by a number plate recognition system.

 

This comes after the World Health Organisation show the average cubic metre of air in Glasgow is six micrograms of hazardous pollution particles over the safe legal limit.

 

NORTH HANOVER STREET: Glasgow is a notoriously busy city and, despite public praise for exceptional transport connections, the affect on health is becoming paramount.

 

Speaking at a Friends of the Earth Scotland event publicly debating the zone, Councillor Anna Richardson (37), the city convener for sustainability and carbon reduction, said: “The evidence shows very clearly that we can reduce emissions most substantially by imposing restrictions on buses in the first phase.

 

“That means all buses passing through the area are either upgraded to euro 6 engines or are retro fitted to ensure all emissions are to a Euro 6 standard,” the SNP councillor added.

 

The ban, which will come into force in 2018, will be detailed in a finalised timetable that is expected to be released in March.

 

There are 200 zones in place across Europe and the Scottish Government plans for Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen to have similar zones by 2020.

 

ECO-BUSH: This is also not the first measure the council have introduced to tackle pollution. Pictured is the running clock outside the Buchanan Street Bus Station alongside one of three eco-benches across the city. These are covered in moss that pulls deadly pollution particles out of the air – learn more here.

 

Councillor Thomas Kerr (20), who sits on the city administration committee, said a zone was a good method of tackling the emissions problem but there are a “number of issues” with the plans.

 

The Conservative said: “The proposals did not consider the cost, bus company concerns, a proper boundary, the impact it would have on the European Championships next year and there was no serious consultation with the public.”

 

Cllr Kerr also said the one-year time scale was not ‘realistic’ as planning must be thorough to ensure “no negative impact on businesses and residents”.

 

Stagecoach Group declined to comment but Cllr Richardson said that bus prices should

ON YOUR BIKE: Friends of the Earth Scotland are also encouraging people to get on their bikes and get around by non-polluting means.

not be affected.

 

Air pollution campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland, Emilia Hanna, said: “This is about health but it’s also about climate change.”

 

Emilia also said a zone is ‘the heart’ of their cause but a ‘weak and ineffective’ one would be unsatisfactory.

 

Campaigners also say they will not stop ‘until the air is safe to breath everywhere and we have a clean and fair transport system.’

 

 

© All photos were taken by Tamsin Ross