Low emission zone support fund

Published

11th February 2021

Low income families who live near Dundee’s proposed Low Emission Zone are being urged to claim up to £3000 to upgrade their car, buy a bike or public transport vouchers.

As part of Scotland’s Low Emission Zone initiative, the Energy Savings Trust has created the Low Emission Zone Support Fund for those most in need within 20km of Dundee city centre to help them comply with forthcoming emission requirements.

Mark Flynn convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “A considerable amount of work is being done to prepare for the introduction of the Low Emission Zone in Dundee which will be one of the biggest changes to the city in decades.

“Under the current proposals, which are expected to be discussed by the committee in the spring, the city’s inner ring road would form the boundary of the LEZ, access to which would only be available to certain types of vehicle that meet stringent air quality criteria.”

Lynne Short depute convener of the council’s community safety and public protection committee added: “Introducing an LEZ brings with it a number of complex challenges, and this fund is aimed at many of the people who come to the city centre from outside and have to rely on an older vehicle for those journeys.

“This money will give them an alternative and create a win win situation with a cleaner or more active way of getting straight into the heart of the city.”

The Dundee LEZ will contribute to the broader city objectives and the vision to create a healthy, vibrant and attractive place by protecting public health through improving air quality in Dundee and achieving air quality compliance for NO2, PM10 and PM2.5.

Dundee's LEZ will develop an environment that helps to promote more active and sustainable travel choices, contributes to the city's ongoing transformational change and helps to promote Dundee as an inclusive and desirable place to live, invest, visit and learn.

As well as the introduction of an LEZ Dundee City Council is actively encouraging other ways of improving air quality by investing in active travel options, like electric bikes and improving cycling and walking infrastructure.

More information on how to claim from the Low Emission Support Fund can be found at https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/grants-and-loans/low-emission-zone-support-fund-for-households/ or by calling 0808 808 2282.

Dundee City Council

Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.

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