A GLASGOW charity has launched an appeal for help to fund new vans to meet the Low Emission Zone standards coming into force soon.

Emmaus, which helps people who are homeless, is mainly funded through its social enterprise projects and needs its vans to operate its service.

But its vans that collect and deliver furniture throughout the city are old and will not meet the strict environmental standards of the LEZ.

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It means they would not be allowed to enter the city centre when the next phase of the scheme starts in June.

So, it has started a GoFundMe to raise the £20,000 it says it needs to replace the current vans.

Emmaus has shops and a workshop on Dumbarton Road in Thornwood and another in Hamiltonhill.

Glasgow Times:

Richard Allwood, director of Emmaus Glasgow, said: "Our vans are an essential part of our operation, enabling us to collect and deliver the items that we need to support our companions and run our shops.

“We also run a weekly soup kitchen and the vans are crucial to transporting the food into the city centre to help Glasgow’s homeless and vulnerable community.

“Every donation, no matter how big or small, will make a real difference to our charity and the people we support." 

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Phase two of the Glasgow LEZ starts on June 1 meaning cars and commercial vehicles need to meet the standards. 

It generally means diesel vehicles before 2015 and petrol vehicles before 2006 will not comply.

A council spokesperson said: “This year is a key milestone in our work to reduce levels of air pollution, with the full roll-out of our Low Emission Zone to include all vehicles to maximise the air quality benefits it can deliver.

“Poor air quality presents a serious risk to public health and so the LEZ is an essential measure if Glasgow is to tackle the harmful air pollution that has dogged parts of the city centre for decades.

“Since Glasgow’s plan to phase in a city centre LEZ was announced in 2018, there has been an extensive programme of engagement to raise awareness of the scheme, its timescale for introduction and the availability of funding to ease compliance.

“Practical, targeted assistance from the Scottish Government to help prepare those most affected by the introduction of LEZs in Scotland has since 2019 included funding for households and micro-businesses, and a separate vehicle retrofit fund.”

The Emmaus fundraiser page can be accessed here.