Dundee’s Low Emission Zone is a hot topic as we approach a year till enforcement begins – but what do our readers think?
The Low Emission Zone is an area in Dundee’s city centre where only certain vehicles are allowed in – depending on their emissions.
Those driving the banned vehicles will be charged for entering the zone once enforcement starts May 30 2024.
Some are very keen on the idea, and the impact it could have on Dundee’s air quality. While others fear it will kill the town centre.
We published an article revealing what the Dundee Low Emission Zone could look like, showing the streets at the edge of the zone and the signs drivers could be faced with, barring them from entry unless they want to be fined.
And our readers didn’t hold back.
Will there be fewer customers in Dundee shops?
One main concern for readers was the impact the Dundee Low Emission Zone could have on footfall in the town.
The LEZ falls in the area surrounding the Overgate shopping centre.
However, the Bell Street car park, Wellgate Centre car park and West Marketgait NCP car park are all excluded from the zone.
Thankfully the noise and nasty emissions from the shop tills will be eradicated.
A comment left on The Courier site
Yet there are many with fears that the shops will be impacted by the reduction of banned vehicles heading in and out of the area.
One commented on our website: “Thankfully the noise and nasty emissions from the shop tills will be eradicated.”
They added: “And I do hope the imported tumbleweed will be locally sourced!”
Courier reader Paul Grieve – quoting a line from The Specials’ No1 hit Ghost Town – added: “This town is coming like a ghost town.”
Another said that Dundee’s streets are already deserted, and that they find this “frightening”.
He commented: “My wife and I drove into town at 7pm last night for a concert at the Marryat Hall. Walked back to Gellatly St car park.
“Streets almost deserted. No pedestrians, little traffic, looked eerie and, to OAPs like ourselves, frightening. Won’t be doing that again.”
Another reader left the comment: “Not very well thought out especially around the bus station.”
Dundee’s Seagate bus station is within the zone. Drivers with the banned vehicles will not be able to head down Seagate between Commercial Street and East Marketgait.
Seagate was named one of the most polluted in Scotland in 2019, coming in at number three for nitrogen dioxide.
So although people will have difficulty dropping their friends off to get a bus from the station, the LEZ should limit the air pollution at Seagate.
‘Cleaner air’ for Dundee and ‘safer’ for pedestrians and children
However, another reader was more confident about the plans.
They called the Dundee Low Emission Zone a “great idea that all large cities are doing”.
Air pollution has been proven to have clear health impacts. Their comment continued: “As well as cleaner air in the city it may be safer for pedestrians and young children.”
Though they added the LEZ may only be successful if there is sufficient parking provided at the edge of town.
Another reader left this comment: “Very few cars are affected by this, not sure why there is so much resistance.”
You can find out if your car will be banned from the Dundee LEZ in this article.
The council will be installing automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras around Dundee to check the vehicles inside the zone.
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