Low Emission Zones in Scotland's biggest cities backed by six in ten residents
dailyrecord.co.ukLow emission zones in Scotland’s biggest cities are now supported by six in ten residents, a poll has found.Some 60 per cent of Scots back the LEZ policy - which aims to ban the most polluting vehicles from our major city centres - up from 53 per cent a year ago.And support is highest in Glasgow, at 62 per cent, where Scotland’s first LEZ was introduced less than a year ago, according to the Opinion Matters survey of 1000 Scots.The move to a Glasgow LEZ has been controversial amid claims it is hammering the taxi trade and night-time economy.This week, it was revealed Glasgow City Council has raised more than £1million in fines from LEZ breaches since the square mile zone was introduced last June.It comes as Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen are set to see similar rollouts this summer.The poll, carried out in March for the health charity Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, found just 21 per cent of Scots oppose LEZs.Air pollution, which can cause lung cancer and worsen conditions like asthma and COPD, kills 2700 Scots every year.It’s also estimated to cost the economy £1.1billion annually in lost work days and costs to the NHS.SNP Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “It’s encouraging to see growing support for Low Emission Zones, which are designed to protect public health by improving air quality.“Cities around the world have been implementing LEZs in response to continued scientific findings into the effects of air pollution caused predominantly by vehicle emissions.“The support from public health charities such as Asthma + Lung UK is welcomed by the Scottish Government and local authorities – and they are right that LEZs cannot work in isolation.“Beyond the full enforcement of Scotland’s LEZs by June 1, we’re continuing to
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