Glasgow Low Emission Zone goes live, despite late efforts to prevent it

It’s finally across the line but Glasgow City Council were forced to cancel a meeting with the press yesterday as news broke that a local car repair business was launching legal action to prevent the enforcement of the Low Emission Zone today.

The owner of the business – who is within the LEZ but services a large number of non-compliant vehicles  – was attempting to obtain an interim order to delay the new phase of the LEZ, to allow a judicial review. He was accusing the Council of inadequate consultation. 

I'm standing in Hope Street, Glasgow. A street infamous for being Glasgow's most polluted street.

However today is the first day of Glasgow's Low Emission Zone. The aim to ban polluting vehicles & encourage active travel#LEZ #Glasgow #AirQuality pic.twitter.com/aNFcGRijAP

— Dr Iain McLellan CEnv 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ (@DrIMcLellanUWS) June 1, 2023

Within a few hours, a judge at the Court of Session had put the LEZ back on track, on the basis of  a ‘balance of convenience’ test.

Phase 1 of the low emission scheme was introduced on 31 December 2018 and only applied to buses. Phase 2 – which applies to all cars bar a few exceptions – has been in place for some time but enforcement has only begun today. 

On Monday the Glasgow Labour Group changed their minds (having voted for the low Emissions Zone originally) and called for the LEZ to be delayed, tweeting: ‘This Thursday the Low Emission Zone will be implemented. We are calling for a delay in the implementation of the LEZ so that charities, businesses and workers can have more time to prepare as the cost-of-living crisis continues.’

A march protesting the scheme took place in the city on Saturday.

This morning Twitter was alive with comment, both anti: ‘Many people who cannot afford new vehicles are being punished by Glasgow City Council. It is greedy and money raising exercise at the expense of poor families.’

And pro: ‘For all you lot complaining you either never set foot in the city centre outside of your suburban retail park hellholes or you get some weird kink out of breathing in literal carcinogens as you walk down the street.’