A petition has been launched to put an end to the new LEZ scheme in Glasgow.

The initiative was first launched back on December 31, 2018 in which buses were subjected to the Low Emission Zone scheme. However, come June 1, all vehicles will fall under the LEZ instructions.

Under the scheme, Petrol cars must comply with Euro 4 standards, which are mostly cars registered after 2006 and diesel vehicles must be registered after 2015 to meet the Euro 6 rules.

Vehicles that do not comply are not allowed to enter and will be fined £60. Now, the scheme is being labelled as a 'dictatorship' and 'erosion of freedom' by angry Glaswegians.

Taking to the Chang.org platform, the petition creator wrote: "The scheme is going to impact key workers, disabled, employed workers, business owners, taxi drivers and other transport businesses and residents within each city zone.

"Glasgow hasn't even given anyone the chance to pay as they enter like London, nor has Glasgow City Council given any alternative parking locations for residents, workers or visitors alike.

"Many people who work and live in the city will suffer putative damage if this goes ahead as many cannot afford to purchase another vehicle.

"This is going to affect businesses, transport, residential lives and footfall in the city."

The petition has gotten over 300 signatures so far and Glaswegians have not been shy about voicing their reasons for signing.

One person wrote: "Our freedom is being eroded; we need to stop this now."

While another commented "This is going to have a massive impact on Families, disabled people, and all residents of Glasgow who are struggling already with a cost-of-living crisis. This will also impact the city centre businesses. We need to encourage citizens into the city. This is such a bad idea."

However, Glasgow City Council remain certain that the initiative is a necessity.

A council spokesperson said: "This year is a key milestone in our work to reduce levels of air pollution.

"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.

"Glasgow’s plan to phase in a city centre LEZ was announced in 2018 and since then there has been an extensive programme of communications and 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 retrofit fund including support for taxi drivers.

"While the vast majority – up to 90% - of vehicles currently entering the city centre will be unaffected, the LEZ standards will address the most polluting vehicles which are disproportionately creating the harmful concentrations of air pollution in the city centre.

"It is reasonable that Glasgow enforces the LEZ at the earliest opportunity to help bring down pollution levels to a more acceptable level and reduce the health impacts on those who visit, work and live in the city centre."

To sign the petition, click HERE

If you want to find out more about the LEZ scheme and affected areas, click HERE