Drivers Warned as Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone Comes Into Effect

Undated file photo of cars. Gareth Fuller/PA Media

Glasgow has become the first Scottish city to enforce a low emission zone (LEZ) that'll see drivers fined if their cars do not meet the standards.

From Thursday, all vehicles entering the Scottish National Party/Greens-run city centre must be compliant with emission guidance.

Glasgow City Council said the policy will protect public health by tackling “unacceptably high” levels of air pollution.

Opposition parties say the policy will affect livelihoods and businesses, with non-compliant cars no longer able to enter parts of the city centre.

A sign at the expanded boundary of London’s ULEZ pollution charge zone for older vehicles on Oct. 25, 2021. Yui Mok/PA

Much like London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ), number plate recognition cameras will be used to enforce the LEZ.

The Glasgow LEZ follows in the footsteps of cities like Bath, Birmingham, and Bristol. Other cities are due to start enforcing similar schemes soon. Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee will enforce LEZs next year.

Scotland’s LEZs will only allow access to vehicles that meet minimum emission standards or meet the exemption criteria or face a penalty charge.

The initial penalty charge of £60 will double for each subsequent breach detected—subject to a cap of £480 for cars and LGVs, and £960 for buses and HGVs.

Air Pollution

Councillor Angus Millar, convener for climate and transport, said, “I am proud that Glasgow has fully rolled out the first of Scotland’s low emission zones, joining hundreds of cities across Europe who have introduced similar initiatives in ensuring cleaner, more breathable air.”

He added, “While the vast majority—up to 90 percent—of vehicles currently entering the city centre will be unaffected, the LEZ standards will address the small minority of vehicles which pollute the most, disproportionately creating the harmful concentrations of air pollution.”

George Redmond, the Labour group leader for Glasgow City Council, said he had “genuine fears” about the impact the policy would have on the night-time economy in the city.

Many taxi drivers have had to purchase new vehicles that are legally compliant with the LEZ guidance.

“We have asked for a delay of 12 months that will give drivers time to prepare,” he said.

“I have genuine fears of the impact this will have on a night-time economy which is still recovering after a devastating pandemic,” added Redmond.

Tory councillor Thomas Kerr said the proposals had been “rushed” and that council chiefs had not taken into consideration the impact of the pandemic.

Tories and Labour have called for a delay to the LEZ until June 2024, arguing that taxi drivers needed more time to “get themselves back on their feet” and that a union estimated that around 1,000 taxi drivers could be off of the roads.

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf speaking to the media in Glasgow on April 13, 2023. Robert Perry/PA Media

In Holyrood on Thursday, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said that LEZ was “condemning” a homelessness charity.

He said that the refrigerated van used by Homeless Project Scotland, a charity operating in the city which feeds around 300 people per day does not meet the standards of the LEZ.

He said that it risks a fine every time it ventures into the city centre, so it has been forced to raise more than £16,000 for a vehicle that is compliant.

Ross initially pressed First Minister Humza Yousaf on why an exemption was not granted for the charity by Glasgow City Council, which is in charge of the LEZ.

Yousaf said: “I do commend the work that’s done by the Homeless Project in Glasgow. We do have to ask ourselves why are they having to feed so many people in any given week?

“That’s undoubtedly the case because of over a decade of Tory austerity, because of a cost-of-living crisis, because of high inflation, because of high energy costs—that’s of course why they’re having to do the work that they’re having to do.

“The First Minister wants to commend Homeless Project Scotland but refuses to stand up and say their one van that helps to feed 300 people every day should get an exemption,” replied Ross.

“That is not commending a charity, that is condemning them and their inability now to do the work they want to do,” he added.

LEZ

Glasgow’s LEZ covers an area of the city centre bounded by the M8 motorway to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south and Saltmarket/High Street to the east.

Enforcement for vehicles registered to a residential property within the zone area will start on June 1, 2024.

A vehicle can only drive within an LEZ if it meets the specified emission standards, which are Euro 4 for petrol cars and vans, Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans, and Euro VI for buses, coaches and HGVs.

A national online vehicle checker by Transport Scotland is available to check for compliance with LEZ emission standards.

Motorcycles and mopeds are not included in the current LEZ schemes and no restrictions will apply.

PA Media contributed to this report.