Edinburgh city chiefs target ‘gas guzzlers’ in parking charges hike

By Oliver Farrimond

EDINBURGH council is set to unveil harsh measures intended to punish drivers of “gas-guzzling” cars.

City bosses are planning to levy steep charges for drivers of CO2-heavy vehicles, including doubling the cost of some parking permits.

Drivers of cars such as Land Rovers or Citroen C6 will face a levy of £320 for parking outside their own homes, if the council’s plans are approved.

In a move intended to encourage drivers in the Capital to take up smaller cars with lower levels of emissions, the plans also include measures to reduce the parking permits of smaller vehicles, such as the Seat Ibiza or the Volkswagen Polo.

Scottish company use LEDs to fix potholes

 

By Cara Sulieman

The Infrared technology in action

A SCOTS company has harnessed infra-red technology to fix potholes without the usual noise and disruption of traditional road-works.

And they have now been given a six month contract from Fife Council to repair the roads in the Kingdom quicker and greener than other methods.

But it’s not the first successful contract for Nu-Phalt, who now supply their unique machines to countries around the world including America, India and Hungary.

The technology is a world first and uses LEDs to heat up the pothole before adding fresh tarmac to the mix.

Gordon Brown urged to get ahead on climate change

By Cara Sulieman

A GORDON Brown lookalike dressed as a life-guard hit a beach in the PM’s own back yard today (thurs) to send an SOS on climate change.

The giant headed doppelganger urged the real prime minister to become a ‘lifesaver’ ahead of the forthcoming climate conference in Copenhagen.

With 100 days until the talks – which aim to create a new deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol – campaigners from Oxfam gathered in Gordon Brown’s constituency to raise awareness of the issues at stake.

Blue meanies go green

By Cara Sulieman

EDINBURGH’S hated “blue meanies” are going green with the introduction of electric scooters.

Parking enforcers will be trying out the S4 scooter next week and if it is successful it will be rolled out across the service.

Made by a local company, Saltire Winds, the sleek scooter will allow wardens to get around quicker and reach places where parking is more difficult.

NSL provides the enforcers for the council, and is hoping that the vehicles will help them up their green credentials.

Lothian power station is the worst polluter in Europe

By Oliver Farrimond

A SCOTTISH power station has been branded the filthiest in Europe.

The coal-fired plant at Cockenzie belches out pollution that causes acid rain.

A new report by energy watchdog Entec found the East Lothian power generator spews out 50 per-cent more nitrogen oxide than its nearest offender.

Longannet power station near Fife was also named as one of Europe’s worst polluters.

This is despite new technology being introduced to the plant – once Europe’s largest – to reduce emissions in 1999.

Richard Dixon, director of environmental group WWF, said: “NOx emissions add to acid rain problems all over Europe and create local air pollution problems.

“It’s very bad news for those with complaints like asthma or emphysema.”

Nitrogen oxide – or NOx – is a deadly gas that causes breathing difficulties, stunts the growth of crops and can even form smog.

The Institute of Occupational Medicine estimates that air pollution from traffic and industry kills more than 600 Scots every year

Scottish Power insisted that they are investing over £35 million pounds to reduce emissions levels from Scotland’s polluting power stations.

A spokesman for the energy giants said:” We are trying to ensure that harmful emissions do not impact local air quality.

“Scottish Power carries out air quality modeling annually at Cockenzie, using the latest software.

“The station also complies with legislation on emission controls.”

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency agreed, saying the improvements were underway at both plants to reduce the spread of deadly pollutants.

The UK dominates the environmental hall of shame – the top three of Europe’s worst polluting power stations are based in Great Britain.

Plants in the UK released 385,000 tonnes of NOx between 2004 and 2006, almost 100,000 more than the Spain, the nearest offender.