Glasgow LEZ: Hospitality bosses fear a double hit to trade

With the start of penalty charging for Glasgow's Low Emission Zone less than 24 hours away hospitality bosses in the city centre are warning they fear a double whammy of a drop in customers and an increases in their costs.

Drivers of diesel and petrol cars which don't meet the latest pollution standards will be given a penalty fine for entering the zone which covers the city's central district, bordered by the M8, the River Clyde and High Street / Saltmarket.

The zone will be enforced using number plate recognition technology.

Vehicle owners will face a fine of £60 the first time their vehicle enters the zone, doubling with each subsequent breach, rising to a maximum of £480 for cars and light goods vehicles and £960 for buses and HGVs.

Like with parking tickets the fine will be halved if it is paid within 14 days, and there are exemptions for some groups including holders of blue badges.

READ MORE: Rush to buy a newer car to beat LEZ fines

What is the LEZ?

The LEZ was first announced in 2017 as a way to improve air quality but until now has only applied to buses.

It is now being expanded to include private cars, taxis, vans and trucks, but other Scottish cities, including Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen have opted for a further 12 month grace period.

Generally, diesel engine vehicles registered after September 2015 which meet the Euro 6 standard, and petrol vehicles registered from 2006 onwards (Euro 4) will meet the required LEZ standards.

Will you be fined? Check your vehicle here.

Staff travel fears

Seamus MacInnes runs Café Gandolfi and fears it could make a double impact on his business, telling Clyde 1 News: "Some of our suppliers are thinking of putting a levy on to deliver to us, which makes what we have more expensive."

"I hope they'll be gentle on some of our suppliers who have old lorries. Maybe they could be exempt until 2029 just like the bin lorries?"

There have been widespread concerns about a potential shortage of taxis, with drivers warning they can't afford to replace or make changes to their cabs, despite the cash support offered by the city council to help with compliance.

Says Seamus: "Customers can't get home, but also very importantly my staff can't get home. I don't want young girls and guys walking through the city, it still doesn't feel safe"

Not enough public transport

Paul Waterson from the Scottish Licenced Trade Association says he also fears an increase in costs and difficulties with public transport.

"There could be a surcharge placed on deliveries because of the LEZ in Glasgow. The timing of this is certainly not right.

"We believe over a thousand taxis will be withdrawn and the public transport system in Glasgow isn't the best. How do people get into the town centre, and how do our staff get home? Especially at night.

Council plays down fears

Councillor Angus Miller is Convenor for Transport on Glasgow City Council and is promising to work with bosses from the night time industry to support their recovery from the pandemic.

He's playing down their fears of a drop in trade telling us:

"The vast majority of people who enter the city centre at the moment - for work or to access the night time economy - don't come by private car. And the vast majority of private cars that are coming into the city centre are already meeting the standards of the low emission zone."

"I think we're at 110% - 115% of footfall during the weekday night time and around 130% pre-pandemic footfall during the weekend.

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• Glasgow