West Lothian Council has given cautious support for a Low Emission Zone for drivers to be introduced by neighbouring City of Edinburgh Council.
Asked to respond to the plans West Lothian has said it needs more clarity to proposals on the potential effects the introduction of the zones would mean for West Lothian residents travelling into the capital .
The council’s Executive backed a report by Roads and Transportation Manager, Graeme Malcolm, which said that the city’s plans for a phased two tier approach which created and central zone with much tougher regulation struck an initial balance for the introduction of LEZ but added that ” it is not without its challenges”
The Scottish Government wants to see LEZ in place by next year. West Lothian wants answers on charging potential. the cost of vehicle fleet conversions and also reassurances that there is no detrimental knock- on to boundary areas.
Highlighting the Displacement Effect, Mr Malcolm’s report said: “Improvements in emissions in one area of the city are likely to generate an increase in traffic and emissions in another. Mitigations will be required to offset these unintended consequences.”
One potential benefit falling in to the unintended consequences category, raised by the report speculated that the LEZ may be perceived as a barrier to doing business in Edinburgh and so drive relocation and investment to surrounding areas including West Lothian.
More conventional benefits would be the improved air quality in West Lothian by cleaner vehicles travelling through to the city as the LEZ becomes established.
