Should Edinburgh's low emission zone be bigger?
It's only been formally introduced today, but could the scope of Edinburgh's low emission zone be expanded? Some politicians think it should be
Last updated 31st May 2022
Edinburgh's low emission zone has only just been introduced today - and won't be enforced for two years - but already conversations are being had about how to potentially expand it.
The LEZ is an area in which the highest polluting cars will not be able to enter, and if they do, they'll be fined.
Find out more about the scheme here.
The overall aim of the system is to make the air quality in Edinburgh's city centre better, and therefore improve health.
Research has found lung conditions such as asthma can be worsened, and more prevalent, in areas with the most polluted air.
But some of the Politicians in the Capital have argued the current map doesn't cover some of the city's worst offending routes, and that it'll just push parts of the problem elsewhere.
What is included in Edinburgh's LEZ:
This is what Edinburgh's zone looks like, it will mainly effect motorists using Princes Street, Lothian Road and much of the Old Town.
The Liberal Democrats in the city believe the roll-out is "slow and Timid".
Group Leader Kevin Lang said:
“The low emission zone being introduced today in Edinburgh is too timid in its ambition and too slow in its implementation. It will leave too many communities with unacceptably low levels of air quality and could even make the situation worse in areas around the city-centre zone.
“In the years to come, the Council will look back and regret the LEZ did not go further and faster. This has been a wasted opportunity to deliver a positive step change in tackling the poor air quality which causes so many health issues, particularly in children.”
Well the Capital's new Transport Convener Councillor Scott Arthur, of Labour, was at a launch event this morning for the LEZ.
We asked him about these concerns, and if the next five years of the Council term would give the administration an opportunity to make changes.
The SNP's Councillor Lesley Macinnes was the previous Transport convener, and a big part of bringing the project to this point.
We asked her for a response to the Liberal Democrat's criticism.
Councillor Macinnes told Forth News: "I am delighted to see the Low Emission Zone reach this stage. We have been worked very closely for some years now with the Scottish Government including Transport Scotland and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and the 3 other cities who are also implementing LEZs.
"The development process has been very careful and has adhered to the scientific parameters laid out in the National Clean Air Framework. It will make a significant difference to both the city centre and the rest of the city as, for example, the bus, freight and taxi fleets all upgrade to meet the LEZ standards.
"It is a shame the Liberal Democrats have failed to understand or acknowledge the technical evidence that was brought to committee, on several occasions, which explained why the city centre model was the most effective choice for Edinburgh.
"Criticising from the sidelines just for the sake of it is never helpful in moving forward the conversation on air pollution and the public health consequences."
We've also asked the Greens and the Conservatives, the two other groups in the Council, for their thoughts on the matter.