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New poll shows increasing support for Low Emission Zones across Scotland

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5 months ago

May 24, 2024

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New poll shows increasing support for Low Emission Zones across Scotland

A poll has revealed that three out of five (60%) of respondents in Scotland support the introduction of Low Emission Zones (LEZs), up from 53% last year.

The poll of 1,000 Scots, commissioned by health charity Asthma + Lung UK Scotland and conducted by Opinion Matters, comes ahead of the introduction of LEZs in Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Glasgow’s LEZ scheme came into effect on June 1 last year.

The poll also showed that only 21% opposed LEZs, down from 23% in 2023, with Glasgow the city with the highest support at 62%.

Gareth Brown, chair of Healthy Air Scotland and policy and public affairs officer at Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said: “We want to see politicians from all parties coming together to tackle air pollution and encourage behavioural change.

“With greater investment in public transport and active travel, and exemptions for the most vulnerable, we want to see our cities to be far healthier places, where people aren’t exposed to unhealthy air. 

“Traffic reduction policies like LEZs are seen as the most effective tool, but we would like to see policies that go further, helping to clear up pollution hotspots throughout the country, not just in our four main cities. It is vitally important that we protect the lungs and health of our communities, no one should be forced to breathe in toxic air.”

The poll comes just days after it emerged that Glasgow City Council has made more than £1m in fines from the first ten months of its LEZ.

Figures shared with STV News showed the local authority received £1,010,585 from Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) payments up to April 13.

The council said any revenue raised from the scheme will be reinvested into net-zero and clean-air projects in the city.

Transport secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “It’s encouraging to see growing support for Low Emission Zones, which are designed to protect public health by improving air quality.

“Beyond the full enforcement of Scotland’s LEZs by 1 June, we’re continuing to invest over £2bn a year on public transport, delivering ambitious policies such as free bus travel for the U22s, the extension of the peak fares pilot for rail travel and continued investment in active travel to make walking, wheeling and cycling easier for more people.

“By encouraging a shift away from cars and towards sustainable transport, we make our city centres better places to live, work in and visit – while at the same time protecting public health and the climate.”