Despite repeated assurances from the Transport Convener that all council vehicles accessing the city centre would be compliant with new regulations by the time enforcement begins, the council say there have been “procurement issues”.
The City of Edinburgh Council will begin enforcement of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) from 1 June. Broadly any cars registered before 2006 will not comply with the rules on emissions and buses registered before 2013. There is a checker based on registration numbers. The link is below.
There are 41 vehicles in the council fleet which do not comply and these include specialist vehicles – for example buses with special wheelchair lifts which are used in the city centre. The council says it has proven difficult to replace these and the only alternative, since they do not want to grant exemptions even to their own vehicles, is to rent replacements.
There are no details of the likely costs involved and the council believes that some of the replacements will arrive by September.
A further 35 vehicles will be replaced in due course but are not used within the LEZ meaning that there is no need for immediate replacements.
The LEZ covers most of the City Centre from Queen Street to the Commonwealth Pool.
Check compliance of any vehicle on the council website:
https://lowemissionzones.scot/vehicle-registration-checker
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