Latest news with #LEZ
The Courier
2 days ago
- General
- The Courier
Readers react to Dundee air pollution figures after year of LEZ
Dundee's low emission zone (LEZ) continues to divide opinion among our readers. Last week, we looked at how air quality had changed in the city in the first year of LEZ enforcement. The provisional data showed that nitrogen dioxide concentrations dropped both within and outside of the zone boundaries. The Seagate station saw an average concentration of 25.24µg/m3 in the past 12 months. That was a drop from 28.87 µg/m3 in the year running up to the enforcement. Whitehall, also within the LEZ, saw only a very slight decline. Professor Jill Belch, who studies the impact of air pollution on health, said that a decrease is 'extremely encouraging'. Chris Gibson was one of several subscribers who had their say in our comments section. He said: 'Historically the Seagate and Whitehall St were bad, largely due to the high volume of diesel buses. 'The shift to electric buses made a big difference, probably making the need for the LEZ redundant.' Dundee Born and Bred added: 'Our wee LEZ makes no difference and should be removed.' Some still view the zone as a 'cash grab' or 'money-making exercise'. Charles Allison said: 'This initiative is fully achieving its primary aim, as has been demonstrated big-time in London. 'It makes a lot of money for the council. Which they need. Whether it has a negative impact on city centre footfall is something worth considering too.' In the first six months of the LEZ enforcement, more than £880,000 worth of fines were issued in Dundee. However, the council is limited by law in terms of what they can do with the collected fines. The funds can only be used by local authorities to support the scheme's objectives or, if there is any money left, to repay LEZ-related grants. Meanwhile, others believe measures to bring down air pollution should be extended. Gregor McIntosh said: 'So it seems the LEZ is working, but the council needs to go further. 'More buses, more regularly, in more places. Properly tackle car dependency.' The question of air quality targets also prompted a lot of debate, with Ms Belch's claim that 'current levels are still unsafe' provoking a reaction. One subscriber said: 'No two people will suffer the same effects of inhaling external toxins, but it's undeniable that for the vast majority, those effects will be highly negative. 'Happening to know one person in the very small number who managed to live longer with few health effects doesn't change that. 'There's absolutely nothing wrong with the comment from Prof Belch. 'Legal limits for anything are set based on statistical models that take a whole range of factors into account. That doesn't mean those limits shouldn't be lower, and that's exactly what experts will argue for.' Last week's article explains that Dundee's air quality has been within Scotland's Air Quality Objective. That target is only to remain below an average of 40µg/m3 of nitrogen dioxide. However the WHO reviewed its guidelines in 2021 and instead now suggest annual average at 10 µg/m3. One Courier website user said: 'For a start…the WHO is an unelected organisation. And look how quickly they changed the goalposts.. '[T]hey set a target, but now we need to all of a sudden have to reduce it by a quarter of that target? Convenient. 'Also the fact that we were already in safe levels yet the poorest people in Dundee get hit with fines for trying to make a go of themselves or by trying to get to work in the only RELIABLE source of transport – their car!' However, the target has changed after more than two decades of further research. Scotland's objectives are based on guidelines first introduced in 2005. Fifer Chris responded to the previous comment: 'You are right in saying that the WHO is an unelected organisation, which is why they ADVISE governments worldwide. They do not and cannot mandate or set laws in the UK – that's for the governments we elect to do. So your point there is misleading.'
Press and Journal
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Press and Journal
How clean is Aberdeen's air? Has controversial city centre LEZ really made a difference?
Aberdeen's low emission zone (LEZ) has now been enforced for exactly a year, after being rolled out in a bid to tackle pollution in the city centre. From June 1 up to the end of this April, the council issued more than £4 million of fines to thousands of people driving non-compliant vehicles within the zone. This has made it something of a source of controversy, with some blaming it for keeping customers away from businesses in the area. But has targeting those behind the wheel of high-polluting motors really made our air much cleaner? Now a year down the line, we have checked how the Granite's City air quality has changed. Across Aberdeen there are six locations with active air quality monitoring stations … but only one lies within the boundaries of the LEZ. The air quality is measured by tracking nitrogen dioxide levels, a harmful gas produced by car exhausts which can damage people's lungs. It's been described as an 'invisible killer' and health higher-ups are desperate to see it dissipate. The Union Street Roadside monitoring station has actually seen average nitrogen dioxide levels decline in the year since the zone has been enforced. This seems to indicate that the LEZ has made a difference. Of course, Aberdeen drivers will be well aware that the LEZ isn't the only traffic change rolled out in the city centre in the last few years – with bus gates also keeping motorists at bay. This station is outwith the bus gates area, though. To measure the impact, we first need to look at the figures between the start of June 2023 and May 31, 2024. Over that spell, the average level of nitrogen dioxide was µg/m3. It saw a much larger drop since June 1 of last year. Since the LEZ has been in place, average pollution experienced by pedestrians shopping on Union Street dropped to µg/m3. So what does that really mean? The number is almost half of the Scottish Air Quality Objective which calls for an annual average under 40µg/m3. But does air pollution in Aberdeen need to continue to fall if it is below our target? We spoke to professor Jill Belch who has researched how air pollution impacts health through hospital admission data. She said a decrease in the average air pollution is 'extremely encouraging'. 'We do know that for every 10% fall in air pollution over a year, you get a 10% fall in hospital admissions,' she explained. 'I think that more and more people are beginning to understand the issues of air pollution. 'The problem is that it is invisible, it is an invisible killer. If it were black smoke billowing out of the back of a car, I think people understand more easily that it is very toxic.' In adults exposure to air pollution can mean more heart attacks, strokes and lung infections. But for children it can also affect their gut and skin health. And it is because of children's vulnerability to air pollution that our levels may still be too high. The World Health Organisation (WHO) seems to think so. While Scotland's objective are 'the best in Europe', the WHO has revised their guidance to a quarter of our current target. Research by Prof Belch based on hospital admission data in Scotland also supports that. 'Our publication a year ago, showed that children are affected at much lower levels than adults and the 40µg/m3 has been working for adults but children are sensitive right down to 10µg/m3,' the academic added. 'We are within the current levels, but the current levels are still unsafe.' 'We do need the LEZs to get our levels even lower.' The Scottish Air Quality Objective regulations only set out an annual nitrogen dioxide target. But even day-to-day spikes in pollution can impact health. Since June 2021, the highest daily average at the Union Street Roadside monitoring site was 69.1µg/m3. But in the year since the LEZ has been enforced, even the highest daily average recorded was 59µg/m3. So how often did the levels ever go beyond this upper limit? Only 5.1% of the 355 daily measurements since the LEZ came into force surpassed the figure. Meanwhile in the preceding 12 months it was 9.3% of all measurements. And in the year before that, it was 12.3%. 'The daily levels of air pollution are very important so to see that fall that is very rewarding,' professor Belch explained. 'You can be in a situation where the annual measurement is okay but you have days when it is really high and that is when people are being admitted to hospital.' Only six of the Aberdeen stations could be used for calculating nitrogen dioxide pollution over the 12 months since the LEZ came into force. The annual average should be based on values for at least 75% of the year or in this case over a 12 month period. The Anderson Drive station did not collect enough data since last June to have a representative average for the period. Errol Place stopped gathering data in 2021. Instead measurements in the area were picked up by the Errol Park station shortly after. It was the only station to see a rise in the pollution in the year since LEZ enforcement. Measuring sites on both Wellington Road and Market Street saw a drop in average nitrogen dioxide levels in the year since the LEZ started to be enforced. Yet it would be difficult to know for certainty if the zone had any impact on that decline. King Street, which is the furthest from the zone, dropped only marginally. Yet the pollution levels there are still significantly lower there than other Aberdeen sites. In fact, in 357 valid measurements since the enforcement started, King Street only saw daily levels surpass 40µg/m3 twice. That accounts for just 0.6% of the period. Similarly, Errol Park only saw the daily mean pass the pollution level ten times in the 349 daily records since the Aberdeen LEZ started. Wellington Road surpassed it the most frequently in the past 12 months. Those instances still only made up 6.7% of the year. But as time goes on we will have a clearer picture of LEZ impact. Data collected so far this year could still see minor modifications as part of a verification process carried out by Scottish Air Quality. Why are these 3 Aberdeen roads the worst for LEZ fines? Our readers have their say Aberdeen LEZ sets new record for highest number of penalties issued in a month
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
85% of Aberdeen traders rejected for LEZ retrofit scheme
However, of the 26 businesses who applied for aid, just four were approved. The figures come amidst rising anger over traffic regulations in the city. A legal challenge against the SNP-led council's bus gates is poised to be heard next month, after local residents and business owners raised more than £65,000 to fund the effort. The LEZ and bus gates have sparked anger in Aberdeen. (Image: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco) Scottish Conservative MSP for North East Scotland Liam Kerr said the sums were evidence of the government's 'pitiful' stance towards businesses affected by the restrictions. In response, Transport Scotland said that the majority of applicants did not meet the necessary criteria for funding. Kerr said: 'Several businesses have already closed since the LEZs went live in Aberdeen, while others are on the brink of their livelihoods being decimated by this draconian scheme. 'Many are relocating their premises or simply avoiding these parts of Aberdeen because the SNP-Lib Dem council have demonised them from coming into our city centre. The Tory MSP added: 'Yet the woeful number of grants issued by the LEZ Retrofit Fund shows the Scottish Government has also shut the door on Aberdeen's business community. 'Rather than punishing motorists, the SNP government, with the council, should focus more on working constructively with businesses to help renew confidence and deliver economic growth.' Kerr submitted a written question in Holyrood to Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop on 21 May. He asked: 'How much of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Retrofit Fund has been allocated to be used for businesses in Aberdeen's LEZ since its introduction, and how much of that allocation was distributed to businesses?' Hyslop responded: '26 applications for this funding have been received from businesses in the Aberdeen area. The majority of applications were rejected due to applicants not meeting the eligibility requirements. 'Four applicants were eligible and offered funding, however only two accepted these offers. The amount received by these businesses to support retrofitting of vehicles to meet LEZ standards was £14,066 in total.' Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop (Image: PA/Jane Barlow).Hyslop noted that 'over 98%' of vehicles that upgraded using the scheme were taxis, and most were based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. She added: 'Lower demand retrofit funding in Aberdeen may be attributed to a combination of local taxi licencing conditions and vehicle eligibility, combined with an LEZ exemption for taxis in the city.' According to Transport Scotland, there are a number of requirements which must be met in order for businesses to qualify for financial assistance. First, funds are only available for 'micro businesses and sole traders'. A 'micro-business' is defined as firms that report a turnover of less than £632,000 or a balance sheet of £316,000 or retain nine or fewer full-time employees. Furthermore, the applying business must not have received any other retrofit grants, must have been operational for at least 12 months, must not be registered to reclaim VAT, and must hold a UK business bank account. Glasgow's LEZ has been live since June 2023. (Image: Image taken by Newsquest staff) Several businesses in Aberdeen have blamed traffic regulations for the failure of their firms. Whisky bar CASC, located on the city's Stirling Street, shut in December 2024. Owners Bill and Paul West said at the time: 'The final nail in the coffin was the utterly ridiculous LEZs/bus gates, and the seemingly never-ending construction around the city turning the centre into a no-go zone for many.' The Herald previously reported how taxi drivers in Glasgow struggled to enhance their vehicles after one of the only firms equipped to carry out the necessary repairs suddenly went bust last summer. At the time, 225 taxis were on the road under a temporary exemption while retrofitting was being carried out. In January 2025, Labour MSP Pam Duncan Glancy raised the issue in Holyrood, telling Hyslop: 'Taxi drivers in Glasgow are keen to play their part in the transition to net zero, but at present they struggle to access some support to comply with the low-emission zone in the city.' Read more: Glasgow drivers racked up £1.7m in LEZ fines since 2023, figures show 'Hypocrisy': One third of Glasgow City Council vehicles don't comply with LEZ rules 'Kick in the teeth': Lost Glasgow LEZ court case costs campaigners £130,000 A recent Freedom of Information Request submitted by The Herald found that Glasgow's drivers have been fined around £1.7m since the LEZ scheme two years ago. Likewise, in Aberdeen, drivers have been fined more than £3m since June 2024. A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: 'Eligibility criteria for the LEZ Support Fund is set to ensure funding is available for those most in need of support to adapt to Low Emission Zones. 'The majority of rejected applicants in Aberdeen did not meet the microbusiness/sole trader criteria, were registered to reclaim VAT, or did not provide the required evidence for eligibility. Four applications were rejected as no retrofit solution was available for the selected vehicle. 'Additional factors such as the local licensing of taxis in cities like Aberdeen has meant there was less need for retro-fitting due to lower numbers of non LEZ compliant vehicles, in addition Aberdeen has granted exemptions for wheelchair accessible vehicles which will likely have further reduced grant applications'.
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Edinburgh's LEZ one year on: More walking and cycling, less pollution and fewer fines
More people are walking, cycling and using public transport since the introduction of Edinburgh's Low Emission Zone, new research claims. 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... And a year on, air quality monitoring shows reduced pollution levels and the city council says the number of fines handed out to vehicles which fail to meet the zone's emission standards has fallen. Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee began enforcing the LEZ standards 12 months ago, a year after Glasgow. Edinburgh's LEZ is one year old | supplied Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Research by the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) looked at whether people in the Capital had changed their commuting behaviour in the first six months of enforcement. The study report said: 'Results suggested a small, but statistically significant, shift towards active travel and public transport within the LEZ, with a decrease in private vehicle use. 'We found evidence that active travel and public transport use increased following enforcement of the Edinburgh LEZ.' And the council said the total number of fines issued for breaches of the LEZ - which covers a 1.2 square mile area of the city centre - decreased by 56 per cent between June 2024 and January 2025 alone. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It said the vast majority of vehicles entering the LEZ - over 95 per cent - were compliant, with around another 3 per cent in exempted classes. Transport and environment convener Stephen Jenkinson said: "I'm proud that alongside Aberdeen, Dundee, and Glasgow we took the bold step of implementing and enforcing a LEZ. We're sending a clear message that our major cities are united in pursuing a better future for all. Fundamentally, the LEZs are about making our cities healthier for everyone. "As Scotland's capital city, we have a duty to lead on the response to the climate and nature emergencies which will define our country for generations to come. Multiple studies show that even low levels of pollution can have an impact on our health. Road traffic is one of the main sources of harmful emissions that are damaging people's health and contributing to climate change, so we have a real responsibility to tackle this. 'The average decrease in penalty charge notices (PCNs) here in Edinburgh show that people are getting used to the LEZ and modifying their habits accordingly. It's also encouraging to see studies showing a positive shift towards greater use of active travel and public transport. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The LEZ is one important tool to help us achieve our ambitious climate goals, including net zero emissions by 2030.' Joseph Carter, head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, said: 'We are pleased that Edinburgh along with Dundee and Aberdeen made the bold move a year ago to ban the most polluting cars from their city and it is a step in the right direction to help improve the air that we all breathe. 'With air pollution cutting short thousands of lives a year, we want to see our cities become far healthier places, where people can walk and cycle and not be forced to breathe in dirty air. 'With 1 in 5 people in Scotland developing a lung condition like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their lifetime, for them, air pollution can trigger life-threatening asthma attacks and flare-ups. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Children are more susceptible to air pollution as their lungs are still growing, and they also breathe faster than adults. As they grow, toxic air can stunt the growth of their lungs, making them less resilient into adulthood and placing them at greater risk of lung disease in the future.' And Flora Ogilvie, consultant in public health at NHS Lothian, said: 'It's great to know that the LEZ enforcement has been in place for a year, helping to improve air quality in the city and protect the health of our most vulnerable residents. Improving air quality and reducing traffic levels are also an important way of encouraging more people to travel by walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport. 'Travelling sustainably can help improve individual physical activity levels and mental wellbeing, as well as supporting better environmental health for the whole population and planet.'
Press and Journal
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Press and Journal
Analysis: How much cash is the Aberdeen LEZ generating, one year on?
It's hard to believe that Aberdeen's LEZ has been enforced for a whole year now. The Scottish Government rolled out low emission zones across Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen to tackle air pollution. And on June 1, 2024, the automatic number plate recognition cameras monitoring the boundary in Aberdeen were turned on. Since then, anyone caught entering the zone in a vehicle that does not meet the strict requirements has been snapped by those cameras and slapped with a fine. In the weeks following the cameras going live, residents and visitors slammed the scheme, with many suggesting it would 'drive people away' from the city centre. However, the council argued that only 14% of vehicles would be impacted by the new road rules. And officers also thought that fines would start to decrease once drivers and visitors got used to the new signage. But even recently, I've had friends and family visiting Aberdeen ask me how they can avoid the LEZ (as well as the bus gates) and where's safe to park their car. And I know plenty of people still claim they'd rather drive out to Aberdeenshire for their shopping instead of chancing the city centre. So, we wanted to find out how many fines have actually been sent out in the first year of the low emission zone, and how much money the cameras are generating for the council. According to Aberdeen City Council's data, a massive fines have been sent out to drivers between June 2024 and April 2025. Not all the cameras were turned on from the get-go, meaning there could have been even more fines sent out in the first month. And, the council website states fines can take 'several weeks' before the penalty charge notice (PCN) is issued. Interestingly, there were more than sent each month since the low emission zone was launched until October, when it dropped to. The lowest number of fines sent out was in January at – meaning that even at its lowest month, almost motorists were potentially stung. But, we do see the number of fines increase again, with more than being dished out in both months of March and April. Which could indicate more people are trying to access the city centre and getting caught out. This is where things start to get a bit confusing. The initial penalty charge notice (PCN 1) for all non-compliant vehicles is , reduced to if paid within 14 days. The penalty amount doubles with each subsequent breach of the rules detected in the same LEZ. The penalty charges (PCN 5) are capped at for cars and light goods vehicles and for minibuses, coaches and HGVs. If there's not another breach of the rules detected within 90 days following a previous violation, the rate will reset to the initial penalty charge. But, the council confirmed that a 50% discount applies to all PCN charge bands for the first 14 days. Meaning, if someone receives a PCN 2, which is , they could only have to pay if they do so quickly enough. See what I meant by things getting a bit confusing? Considering the above, it's a little bit tricky to really pin a number on it. The council would not provide us with the total amount generated for the fines either. So I've done my best to work it out, but I will caveat this by saying they don't make it easy. From June 2024 until April 2025, a were dished out to drivers caught out for the first time (or at least, within a 90-day period). This equates to in fines. But as I mentioned, if everyone paid their fine straight away, therefore, slashing it down to , that is still added to the council coffers. During that same time, have been caught breaking the road rules. And, what's even more surprising is were sent out. This is the highest charge, and is capped at between and depending on the vehicle type. It also means the non-compliant vehicle was snapped entering the LEZ at least five times. In context, that means just shy of 7% of the fines were of the highest possible charge. Taking all this into account, it means at least worth of low emission zone fines have been sent out in 11(ish) months. Transport Scotland paid for the implementation for the clean air zone in Aberdeen. Because of the tight legislation around the LEZ, money generated through fines must be used to cover the ongoing and operational costs of the scheme. To put it simply, the money gained from fines will be ringfenced for camera maintenance, staffing, replacements, and repairs. However, Aberdeen City Council previously confirmed that once the running costs are covered, any remaining money will be used on more projects aimed at improving air quality. I asked the local authority if any money had been spent so far (and if possible, how much), but a spokeswoman was unable to tell us. In February, we reported were made between June 1, 2024 and January 15, 2025. At that point, it meant almost 10% of people snapped by the LEZ cameras tried to appeal their fine. Of those appeals, at the time of reporting, and a further 449 had not been decided by then. It would be safe to assume that this number has probably increased, however, the local authority was unable to tell us when asked. A spokeswoman previously said most of the successful appeals were due to drivers or their passengers having a blue badge at the time. She went on to explain that the second most common reason was that compliant vehicles were being picked up because of their private number plates. Additionally, some unmarked police cars or emergency vehicles were being snapped by the cameras. But they are exempt and any charges were dropped once evidence was provided. Last year, we also reported that although motorbikes and mopeds were exempt from the road rules, bikers were wrongly charged for entering the LEZ. However, the council could not say how many fines were sent out in error at the time. The spokeswoman stressed that only 4% of all PCNs issued were successfully appealed. Taxi drivers were given a year's grace period to ensure their vehicles met the strict requirements. In September 2023, a report highlighted that 32% of taxis (189 vehicles at the time) and 8% of hire cars (19 at the time) did not meet the requirements. But, taxi drivers in the city will now need to be compliant with the road rules by June 1, 2025, if they want to accept any fares. As I previously mentioned, Aberdeen City Council originally estimated 14% if cars in the city would not meet the strict requirements. Not long after the clean air zone was introduced I surveyed the LEZ boundary between the Denburn and Woolmanhill Roundabout during rush hour. Our findings from that morning undercut the initial prediction. After manually imputing every registration plate of 873 vehicles into the official checker, we found only 23 were non-compliant, which equates to 2.6%. During a committee meeting, planning chief David Dunne used our report to vindicate the LEZ, and argue that it is not a 'cash cow'. He also stressed that the number of non-compliant cars in the city will get 'smaller and smaller, year on year'. At the time, Mr Dunne suggested there was evidence to show the numbers of non-compliant cars were not as high as expected. And he pointed out that 10 of the 14 car parks are outwith the clean air boundary, arguing the city centre has not been closed off to some drivers. However, we later reported that Aberdeen's LEZ generated more fines than Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow in the first month of operation. Aberdeen's LEZ is also quite a small area, covering less than half the ground of Glasgows low emission zone. And from looking at the latest figures, they are arguably still quite high, with online data showing fines increasing in March and April above 2,000 once more. We approached the council for a comment. The low emission zones were introduced across Scotland with the intention of improving air quality in the four city centres. But one year on, have the zones actually improved the air that we breathe? Why have majority of LEZ fines been clocked on these 3 Aberdeen roads? We find out We count how many drivers get caught out on Denburn during rush hour
