Aberdeen City Council has started its public consultation around its proposed Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in the city, inline with the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government.
The current proposed minimum criteria plans to include only the following vehicles in the zone; Euro 6 for diesel cars, Euro 4 for petrol cars and Euro VI for heavy diesel vehicles. Electric and hydrogen vehicles will also be able to enter the zone. Any vehicles not meeting these standards will not be able to enter although certain exemptions and grace periods will be available.
Aberdeen’s LEZ will be in the city centre as this is where air quality is currently poorest. A number of monitoring locations in the area show that levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air regularly exceed European and national objective limits.
“This is a concern because poor air quality is known to worsen a number of health conditions, particularly those affecting the heart and lungs, and to disproportionately impact the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable members of our society. The main source of NO2 emissions is road traffic hence the need for a LEZ that addresses the most polluting vehicles,” said the council.
In 2019, roughly one-third of vehicles passing through Aberdeen city centre were not compliant meaning these would not be able to enter the LEZ. The figure is likely to be much less, however, by the time LEZ enforcement begins, as individuals and businesses buy newer vehicles over time.
