Many people are just becoming aware that low emission areas in central Edinburgh and other Scottish cities will stop them from travelling by car or van into the centre of the city.  If a person does, they will be fined, heavily and repeatedly.  

Low emission zones discriminate against most car/van vehicles which have been bought in good faith and do not meet the criteria for emissions.  Therefore your travel is restricted and your car/van has far less value.  

Diesel vehicles are particularly penalised, once acceptable, now no longer.  

Many vehicles from 1 June 2024 in Edinburgh and other cities will not be allowed to enter the central Edinburgh low emission zone.  This means that people will receive huge fines to visit sick family members and to shop for vital goods.  Or to even have a tradesperson visit their house to fix something such as a leaking tap.  

I agree with maintaining modern health and environment policies but this LEZ is not the best policy to follow.  It will restrict individuals’ personal lives and harm businesses within that zone.  

I hope that with enough support, LEZ’s will be stopped and scrapped completely.  

Why doesn’t the Scottish Government make the entire country an LEZ?  In doing so, they should buy everyone an electric vehicle or van.  I would support that. 

However I cannot support such a limited LEZ proposal with no support for the people this affects the most.  The financial support available is meaningless when it comes to purchasing electric cars.