Glasgow is "stalling on air quality" as Friends of the Earth Scotland rank Hope Street as Scotland's most polluted street in 2019.

This is not the first year the Glasgow street has topped the chart and its level of nitrogen dioxide caused by diesel pollution far outstrips other Scottish locations. 

Despite the initiative to develop Glasgow's Low Emission Zone (LEZ), campaigners say this data shows not enough is being done to reduce fossil fuel vehicle. 

Friends of the Earth Scotland's pollution campaigner, Gavin Thomson, said: “These figures are shameful. Most of Glasgow, and most of Scotland, is stalling on air quality. 

"This is dangerous for our health, and is a failure of government to protect its most vulnerable citizens."

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He added: "We are all at risk from toxic traffic fumes but it is particularly harmful to children, the elderly and those who are already ill.

"Glasgow’s weak Low Emission Zone, which only requires 40% of buses to be cleaner, is not nearly enough.

"People in Glasgow need to see bold measures to reduce car traffic around the city and the Council must have a stronger role in delivering public transport.

"Positive changes need to be made, and quickly. By ending the chokehold of cars on our public spaces, we can open our city streets up to walking, cycling and create healthier, safer communities.”

The official air pollution data for 2019 was analysed by looking at two toxic pollutants. 

Legal air safety standards which should have been met in 2010 are being breached at six monitoring stations across Scotland. 

The European Ambient Air Quality Directive set the limit for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) of 40 microgrammes per cubic metre. 

Hope Street was found to have a mean of 55.63 microgrammes per cubic metre. 

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Glasgow City Council has emphasised they have a number of initiatives in place to improve the air quality in Glasgow. 

A spokeswoman said: “A wide range of work is underway in Glasgow to encourage higher levels of active travel, drive up standards in public transport and reduce the reliance on private vehicles.

“The £115m City Deal Avenues project will transform the urban realm of 21 major streets in Glasgow city centre to encourage more walking, cycling and economic growth."

Keir Murdo, 34, a data analyst who lives in Glasgow, said: "Air pollution is an injustice.

"I have a young son and I’m really concerned about what he’s breathing in, and the lack of action to reduce pollution.


“I’d like to see the ambition we need, for air pollution and for climate emissions.

"We should bring First Bus back into public ownership. Make public transport free, convert all buses to electric, and make it easier and safer for people to cycle in the city."

Since the start of Glasgow's LEZ, a minimum of 40% of journeys through the city centre will now be made by buses that meet the required emission standard.

A council spokeswoman added: "By the end of 2022, this will rise to 100% at which time the LEZ will broaden in scope and become applicable to all other vehicle types, including taxis and private cars.

“The recently introduced bus gate on Oswald St is steering hundreds of vehicles away from Hope Street every hour, which will help to reduce emissions in the area.”