Polluting vehicles face being banned from entering Edinburgh city centre, under plans to improve air quality with a "low emission zone".
The city council revealed the plans alongside sweeping changes to the centre of the capital, including car-free streets and dramatic new public spaces.
The proposal would mean penalties for cars, vans, lorries and buses which do not meet emission standards, these are typically older vehicles.
There would be two concentric low emission zones in Edinburgh, one around the city boundaries and a more stringent one around the city centre.
Automatic number plate recognition cameras would be used to detect when the vehicles entering the low emission zone, with tough penalties for drivers who are caught.
Glasgow has introduced a similar low emission zone, though currently only buses are included in the scheme.
What cars are affected?
Different types of engines have different emissions standards, with many older diesel models failing to meet the latest regulations.
Petrol cars sold after January 2006 will meet the Euro 4 regulations, allowing them to enter either zone without the penalty.
Diesel cars will have to meet the Euro 6 standard, which is required on cars sold after September 2015.
The city-wide boundary wont apply to private cars under the plans.
For heavy diesel vehicles the standard for penalty -free access will be Euro 6, applying to vehicles registered after 2014.
Is there a grace period?
The council plans to begin the scheme at the end of 2020, however there will be a grace period before enforcement begins.
For people living in Edinburgh who have non-compliant cars, there will be an extended grace period.
Details of the proposed timings are below:
Why are the council planning this?
Transport and environment convener Lesley Macinnes said the plans would mean Edinburgh is leading the way in improving air quality.
She said: "Tackling air pollution benefits everyone – residents, commuters and visitors - particularly the most vulnerable members of society.
"Like cities across the UK and globally, we are committed to improving air quality and realising the health benefits this will bring.
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“Edinburgh is one of the fastest-growing cities in the UK and it’s clear that we need to take action to build resilience while ensuring a high quality of life for everyone who comes here.
"Our plans for an LEZ, as part of a broader package of measures to improve sustainability and connectivity across the city, will be central to achieving this.”
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