Head in the Clouds (of Smog)

Scotland’s Cities Clean up Their Act

We’ve just been choosing a car to replace our current and elderly vehicles which are showing the effects of time. Mine is a staggering 21 years old and still performing well, but with the new MOT tests this month it will have to go. We only wanted petrol because of the brouhaha over diesel these days and that limits your options, but we opted for a 999cc 3 cylinder car which they say is clean and frugal on the jungle juice. And just in time it seems as more LEZs are to be introduced . Indeed Glasgow plans to have Scotland's first Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in place as 2018 draws to a close. And it will come with a bang not a whimper at Hogmanay. The new zone, covering the city centre, is due to come into effect at 23:59 on 31 December 2018. Happy new year, I don’t think. And all vehicles entering the zone will have to be fully compliant by 31 December 2022, which means very few older cars. They’ll have to clean up the buses, bin lorries and taxis too. Green camapaigners don’t think they have gone far enough. If you’ve driven in London you remember the huge C signs in the road which means you’ve just spent £11.50 if you drive over one with a penalty of between £65 and £195 levied for non-payment Jings!

Countdown to LEZ - Next Is the Capital

And if the residents of the capital were feeling left out new plans aimed at making Edinburgh Scotland’s greenest city have been unveiled. They’ll have an LEZ of course, but competition to be green means dramatic options being looked at that include the setting up “freight hubs” outside the city for lorries as well as totally banning regular vehicles that fail to meet emission targets. This is all great for air quality but we will all be affected by ever stronger pollution regulations in the near future.  The LEZ will be likely enforced by installing a slew of  licence-plate recognition cameras and the final designs are set to be released in early 2019. It will all change other aspects of city life  like how goods are delivered into shops and hotels in the city centre and how people get their parcels from James  Pirie delivered.

The Future is Pirie - Take a Deco

But get it delivered we will. It seems that everything is conspiring to make the internet ever more convenient and going to the shops ever more expensive. But we don’t like the word expensive here at James Pirie, we like words like value, affordable and special offer. And in the handsome new catalog for 2108 there are some stunners that will suit many a pocket. There is a new vintage bar collection in a wonderful Art Deco style. Just type art deco into the search box on the website and it will pop up with a wonderful assortment. But my favourite at the moment is The Royal Scot Crystal Art Deco Tall Tumblers. Just right for my gin based favourites. It’s a stylish glass to drink from and it’s on offer just now.

https://www.jamespirie.com/art-deco-2-tall-tumblers-presentation-boxed.html