An Update By Coucillor Max Mitchell

Low Emission Zone

Residents may or may not be aware that much of the city centre is due to become a Low Emission Zone (LEZ). This will mean that vehicles not meeting specific emissions standards will be unable to enter or they will receive a penalty charge (fine). The intention is to make the city’s air cleaner. If approved by the Council and the Scottish Government, the proposed starting date is 31st March 2022. However, the Council intends to allow a ‘grace period’ of two years so penalty charges would only be issued from 1st June 2024. The LEZ is proposed to operate 24/7/365. The Council intends to use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor the vehicles entering the zone. The cameras, using information from the national vehicle database, then detect vehicles not complying with minimum emission standards. If the standards are not met, then a penalty charge will be issued. The standards are to be set as Euro 4 for petrol cars/vans (typically registered from 2006), Euro 6 for diesel cars/vans (typically registered from September 2015), and Euro VI for buses/coaches/HGVs (typically registered from January 2013). Exemptions will apply, including for those with a blue badge. A consultation is taking place on the Council’s Consultation Hub and is open until 20th September 2021. It seeks residents’ views on the proposed boundary, the two-year ‘grace period’, and possible exemptions. Many residents have already been in touch with their concerns about restricting access to the centre, displacing traffic and pollution into nearby streets, financial implications for those with an older vehicle, and dividing the city north-south. Please do consider responding with your views: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ sfc/low-emission-zone.

Communal Bin Review

In April 2021, the Council’s Transport & Environment Committee approved a ‘Communal Bin Review Update’ report which included a decision to remove gull proof bags and red/blue recycling boxes and replace them, including all communal bins, with on street bin hubs – including in the World Heritage Site. An amendment was proposed by my colleagues on the committee to delay this specific aspect of the report to allow for the promised consultation with residents impacted by the changes. Sadly, a majority of councillors voted against this amendment and supported proceeding with the changes whilst ‘engaging’ with street associations and community councils through the summer. Furthermore, local councillors are usually notified of a committee report with a decision that will impact their Ward in advance of the meeting, but this did not happen. I believe the process should have been presentations/Q&A sessions on proposals followed by a public consultation to help inform any decisions that may have then be made. Explaining to residents what the reasons, aims, and objectives of a review are followed by asking, “How best do you think we could/should do this?” would have been a more respectful way to proceed. In a similar vein to some Spaces for People schemes, regardless of their overall stance, most residents have been extremely unhappy with the lack of proper consultation, the ensuing ignoring of views, lack of consideration for those with a disability, and the visual impact. Importantly, there is enormous concern for the status of the World Heritage Site especially after UNESCO’s recent decision on Liverpool. Please don’t hesitate to contact Inverleith Ward councillor Max Mitchell by email, max.mitchell@edinburgh.gov.uk, or by phone 0131 529 4409, with any local issues or questions.