Thousands of people living within Dundee’s proposed Low Emission Zone (LEZ) are being asked for their views on “one of the biggest changes to the city in decades”.
The zone drafted by council officers would potentially stretch across the centre, bordered by East, West, and North Marketgait as well as Dock Street.
Access would only be granted to certain types of vehicles that meet stringent air quality criteria.
All non-compliant buses would be banned, along with all older HGVs, LGVs and diesel cars registered on or before August 31 2015 and all petrol cars registered before 2006.
The first stage of the council’s consultation will ask those living within the zone for their thoughts.
Leaflets are being sent to households in the city centre detailing how people can take part.
SNP councillor Kevin Cordell, convener of Dundee City Council’s community safety and public protection committee, said: “This is one of the biggest proposed changes to the city in decades so it is important that as many people as possible take part in the LEZ consultation.
“We want Dundee to have the best-informed and most transparent debate about our air quality, our health and the kind of place we want to be.”
Following the Scottish Government’s promise to create an LEZ in the country’s four biggest cities, councils in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow have each drawn up their own plans.
Fellos SNP councillor Alan Ross, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said it was important the zone does not damage the city’s economy.
He said: “Finding just the right balance between improving air quality and ensuring that the city’s commerce and industry is not brought to a standstill is a critical part of the consultation.
“We will only do that if as many people as possible tell us what they think of the proposals and which option they would choose for the LEZ.”
The initial plan has been criticised by environmental charity Friends of the Earth and the British Lung Foundation as not being ambitious enough.
The council has said it is part of a package of measures it is putting in place to tackle air quality.
Others include investment in cycle paths, walkways and electric vehicles.
A share scheme featuring 350 e-bikes is due to be introduced across the city next year.
A programme of consultation meetings is under way with the community councils and forums most affected by the proposals.
To take part in the consultation go to www.dundeecity.gov.uk/LowEZ.
