Plans for Dundee’s first low-emissions zone should be published as soon as possible, a leading councillor has claimed.
Glasgow City Council has just published a draft proposal for its first low emissions zone, the first of its kind in Scotland, and Dundee West End councillor Fraser Macpherson said the City of Discovery should follow suit.
Similar zones are due to be launched in Edinburgh and Aberdeen and the Liberal Democrat councillor said he wants to see real progress in the city’s bid to improve air quality.
Friends of the Earth Scotland has identified a number of areas in Dundee as having particularly poor air quality, including the Seagate and Lochee Road.
Mr Macpherson, whose West End ward includes Lochee Road, said traffic numbers there have risen to 17,305 vehicles per day.
He said: “It is vital there is a proactive approach to tackling the air quality issue. I have raised this on numerous occasions with the council in the past and we need to see a situation where no Dundee streets have unacceptable air quality.
“A significant number of constituents live in the tenement flats on the south side of Lochee Road near to the junction where nitrogen dioxide are unacceptably high. It is therefore important that the council has a clear strategy for improving air quality here.”
Tom Stirling, Dundee City Council’s head of community safety and protection, said councillors would be updated on the city’s progress in June.
He said: “In terms of progress in Dundee, representatives attended the newly established LEZ consistency group to discuss how the four cities can share learning and experience and take forward LEZs and ensure a consistent approach is taken by all the cities. Traffic count data to inform the air quality capacity model for Dundee has been gathered.
“The model for Dundee is still in production by SEPA. Once we have the model, we can begin to work on the next steps in developing our LEZ.
“In the meantime, we continue to work with other key stakeholders to help work towards the aims of the Scottish Governments ‘Cleaner Air for Scotland – The Road To A Healthier Future’, through representation on the groups set up to deliver this.”
Mr Macpherson added: “Back in June 2017, I called on Dundee City Council to consider the possible introduction of low emission zones to properly tackle air quality worries in the city and the committee decision following this to take this forward is welcome.
“It is vitally important that there is proactive work on the low emission zones continues apace as the city is capable of making significant reductions in levels of air pollution.
“Additionally, detailed work tackling the specific issues at particular streets with air quality issues, like Lochee Road, is vital.
“We need to see momentum to achieve a proper and lasting solution as Dundee residents deserve to breathe clean air in every street in the city.”
