Latest news with #LEZ
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Have you spotted the 20 new Glasgow city centre trees?
The trees, funded through revenue from Low Emission Zone (LEZ) penalty charges, are part of Glasgow City Council's efforts to expand the urban canopy and improve environmental conditions in the area. Twenty large trees have been newly installed, and eight additional planters were moved from George Square to other locations while the square undergoes redevelopment. In total, 28 metal and stone planters are now in place across the city centre in locations including Trongate and outside the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA). Cllr Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery, said: "These new urban trees are more than just a visual enhancement to our city centre – they represent our commitment to a greener, healthier, and more sustainable Glasgow. "By reinvesting Low Emission Zone penalty income into projects like this, we're not only improving the look and feel of our public spaces but also delivering real environmental benefits for our city centre and securing a positive legacy from our action to reduce air pollution." City centre tree planter on James Watt Street (Image: Glasgow City Council) Glasgow tree planter outside the GOMA (Image: Glasgow City Council) Read more: Prominent sports club bar and bistro in 'leafy West End' brought to market Major British institution with Glasgow branch to close more than 100 locations' Glasgow tree planter outside the Mercat (Image: Glasgow City Council) The planters feature a variety of trees, including birch, cherry blossom, and rowan. These trees are intended to improve the appearance of the city centre while also helping to address climate change. They do this by absorbing carbon dioxide, lowering air and surface temperatures, and filtering airborne pollutants. Other locations include Dundasvale Road, James Watt Street, Hope Street/Bothwell Street, the Mercat, Brunswick Street, Albion Street, Goosedubbs, Blythswood Square, and Dundas Lane.
Scotsman
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
LEZs have not made much difference to city air quality
Vintage Edinburgh bus Edinburgh's pointless Low Emission Zone (LEZ), imposed by the SNP Scottish Government and the left-wing parties on the council, could keep residents debating for years. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I am loathe to return to the topic, but we saw more nonsense peddled about it this week in the Evening News. Donald Anderson, an old political sparring partner of mine from his time as council leader, praised it on Tuesday and took up a cause championed by a few in the Old Town who bemoan that some older buses are allowed in as 'historic vehicles' for bus tours. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Donald admitted himself that the odd classic car will have negligible effect on air quality, but forgot that two or three buses - even seven days a week – will have the same minimal effect. What he inadvertently spotted is that even fully compliant modern buses remain an issue. Retired Edinburgh air quality specialist John Lamb keeps exposing this (@JohnfaeScotland on X/Twitter). He has shown from the council's own 2022 data that the 37,600 vehicles a day on Queensferry Road created a nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration of 26 µg/m3. Meanwhile, on Shandwick Place, where private vehicles are banned, the 2155 buses and taxis created a higher concentration of 28 µg/m3 of NO2. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For comparison, in 2019 before the car ban, Shandwick Place had 14,600 mixed vehicles a day and the NO2 concentration was 37 µg/m3 – it has dropped but not that much. Until they are all electric, a single bus will create far more pollution than many cars and our worst pollution hotspots will remain. The good news is that Edinburgh's air quality is already approaching the cleanliness of background countryside levels and we met the LEZ objective on statutory air quality before it was even introduced. Where Donald was wrong was when he said old car users could 'pay for the privilege' of entering the LEZ. In truth they are fined very heavily compared with the low access fee for English LEZs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The truth is that this is a policy implemented by those who hate the concept of private vehicles and the individual freedom they bring. Cllr Iain Whyte, Craigentinny/Duddingston Ward and leader of the Conservative group
Glasgow Times
10-07-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow residents encouraged to sponsor new street trees
This is part of a wider plan by the Glasgow City Council with the charity, Trees for Cities, to increase Glasgow's tree canopy. The Trees for Streets scheme allows people to choose where they would like a new tree to be planted in their neighbourhood on an online map. The city's Low Emission Zone penalty charge income, amounting to £85,000, is helping to partly fund this pilot scheme. Read more: Free dinosaur and fossil craft workshop for kids at Dobbies Glasgow Sponsors would contribute £350, while the remainder of the cost, which includes a site survey and the planting of a three to four-metre-high tree, will be covered by the LEZ penalty charge income. The council will arrange the planting of the tree between this autumn and next spring. Find out more about how the tree planting sponsorship scheme works by visiting Councillor Angus Millar, city convener for climate, believes the scheme will empower people to bring nature to their doorstep and help mitigate the effects of climate change. He said: "Tree planting is an ongoing priority for the council and this partnership with Trees for Streets will complement our wider greening programme across Glasgow. "By sponsoring a street tree, you'll be helping to create greener neighbourhoods and play a part in the city's response to the climate crisis. "We also welcome sponsorship from businesses who are looking to create a lasting impact in their local communities. "Support is also available from Trees for Streets to organise a crowdfunding campaign to green an entire street. "Sponsoring a street tree is a great way to make our neighbourhoods greener, more pleasant places to live, and can create a real sense of neighbourhood connection. 'This latest venture continues to ensure that penalties collected through the city's Low Emission Zone are poured back into local communities. "Combined with £732,000 already committed to community-led environment projects and a further £165,000 to green the city centre with tree planters, almost £1million of LEZ income is being invested into Glasgow, meaning we can deliver both cleaner air and greener streets in the city centre and beyond." Carrie Hume, project director at Trees for Streets, said: "Trees breathe life into streets. "They simply transform neighbourhoods, making places more beautiful whilst helping people shelter from the sun and have real connections with nature on their doorstep. "We are pleased to be working with Glasgow City Council supported by funds from the LEZ scheme to bring the national street tree sponsorship scheme into the streets of Glasgow and so aid their ambition for more trees across Glasgow." The scheme aims to plant more than 250,000 street trees nationwide over the next 10 years. It was co-founded by Start with Local and Trees for Cities and is funded by the People's Postcode Lottery, the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, and City Bridge Trust.
The Herald Scotland
10-07-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow LEZ funds to go towards tree planting in city neighbourhoods
The LEZ penalties will part-fund the pilot scheme with £85,000 of the money raised going towards making urban area a greener and more vibrant place. Residents can use the Trees for Streets online platform and it allows them to drop a pin onto a map to indicate where in their neighbourhood they would like a new street tree to be planted. It is then assessed by the charity who look at various factors before deciding if it is the right place. The sponsor will donate £350 with the remaining cost covered by LEZ penalty charge income. Cllr Angus Millar, City Convener for Climate, believes that the pilot sponsorship scheme will empower and inspire people to bring nature to their doorstep and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Read More He said: 'Tree planting is an ongoing priority for the council and this partnership with Trees for Streets will complement our wider greening programme across Glasgow. By sponsoring a street tree, you'll be helping to create greener neighbourhoods and play a part in the city's response to the climate crisis. 'Using the Trees for Streets' interactive map, residents can choose to sponsor a new street tree near their home or in the wider neighbourhood. We also welcome sponsorship from businesses who are looking to create a lasting impact in their local communities. Support is also available from Trees for Streets to organise a crowdfunding campaign to green an entire street. 'Sponsoring a street tree is a great way to make our neighbourhoods greener, more pleasant places to live and can create a real sense of neighbourhood connection. I would urge residents and businesses to look at this new scheme and consider planting a tree in a place that's important to them. 'We also know that more trees can help mitigate weather extremes by absorbing pollution and capturing carbon, as well as providing shelter and habitats for birds, pollinators and other wildlife. 'This latest venture continues to ensure that penalties collected through the city's Low Emission Zone are poured back into local communities. Combined with £732,000 already committed to community-led environment projects and a further £165,000 to green the city centre with tree planters, almost £1million of LEZ income is being invested into Glasgow, meaning we can deliver both cleaner air and greener streets in the city centre and beyond." Carrie Hume, Project Director, Trees for Streets said: 'Trees breathe life into streets. They simply transform neighbourhoods, making places more beautiful whilst helping people shelter from the sun and have real connections with nature on their doorstep. 'We are pleased to be working with Glasgow City Council supported by funds from the LEZ scheme to bring the national street tree sponsorship scheme into the streets of Glasgow and so aid their ambition for more trees across Glasgow. We look forward to empowering communities and businesses to bring about new investment in their streets.'
Scotsman
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Why are heavily polluting buses still allowed on city streets
Old cars can't come into the city without paying for the privilege under the low emission zone, but commercial vintage buses face no similar restrictions Low Emission Zone signs in place with six months to go Official road signs are being installed on the boundary of Edinburgh's Low Emission Zone (LEZ), with six months until enforcement begins. The signs, which are being used in the four Scottish cities with city centre LEZs, will inform drivers they are driving within the zone. In Edinburgh, additional '˜warning signs' will tell drivers that Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) will not be issued until 1 June 2024 and only to the most polluting vehicles. On Wednesday, Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Scott Arthur met contractors installing some of the first signs and urged drivers to prepare for the changes coming into force from 1 June 2024. Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: While enforcement against non-compliant vehicles won't begin until 1 June 2024, these signs are a reminder that the changes will soon come into force. By allowing a two-year grace period we wanted to give people plenty of time to prepare for the LEZ. However, with six months to go there's still time, and I'd urge anyone who's eligible to apply for the support finds on offer. Essentially, reducing the most polluting vehicles from the city will benefit everyone. Air pollution harms both our physical and mental health, so the LEZ we will help create a healthier place for everyone, reducing inequalities and making the city centre a more welcoming place. Dona Milne, Director of Public Health, NHS Lothian, added: Reducing air pollution has clear long and short-term health benefits for everyone. Our hope is that improved air quality will also encourage people to take advantage of more sustainable and active ways of travel, such as walking, cycling and public transport, which is beneficial for individuals and communities alike. Some households and small businesses One of the things I find difficult to understand in a city with low emission zones is why we allow some of the most heavily polluting vehicles onto our city centre. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... There's been a huge debate about the low emissions zones, and everyone had the opportunity to have their say after which the proposals were implemented. Clean air hasn't happened overnight. I well remember a friend telling me about a car trip with his mum and dad back to his home just off Leith Walk in 1950s Edinburgh. Such was the pollution in those days that his mum had to open the door to check where the pavement was, so that they could park safely. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We're much better placed these days. Indeed, Edinburgh hasn't just dumped the 'Old Reekie' tag, our air quality has been completely transformed. In November a survey by Autotrader concluded that Edinburgh had the cleanest air of any city in the UK. Old cars can't come into the city without paying for the privilege, but commercial vintage buses face no similar restrictions. I understand why we would want to make vintage cars exempt. After all an occasional day trip by someone in a vintage car is neither here nor there, and they're lovely to see occasionally. However, tour buses are commercial enterprises, and they run seven days a week in the city, so the environmental impact won't be negligible. There are plenty of modern buses on the market that have very efficient engines and there are now plenty of electric buses on the market too. There are plenty of buses that have been converted, so that could happen too. We all want to see more jobs and benefits from Edinburgh being such a successful tourism destination. But we all want to breathe cleaner air at the same time. We all want to preserve our historic buses and perhaps a historic bus tour should be like a steam train trip, one of those rare treats to be savoured. Surely, it's time that all commercial tour buses in the city centre operate by the same rules? Donald Anderson is Director, Playfair Scotland
