Busy road could be freight expressway
COUNCIL bosses are considering turning one of the busiest roads into Leicester into a “freight expressway” in a bid to keep heavily polluting lorries out of the city centre.
Under proposals meant to cut air pollution the city council could put a priority lane for lowemission goods vehicles running into the city centre along the A47 Hinckley Road.
Officials have identified the Sunningdale Industrial Park on the A47 as a location for a freight consolidation depot where loads from big trucks, destined for city centre businesses, would be transferred into smaller electric or low emission vans which would then take them to their final destination - reducing city centre exhaust emissions.
The EU target for micrograms of harmful nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre of air is 40 but on some of the busier roads and bus routes in the city it is much higher.
Latest figures show it is 58mcg on Glenhills Way, 44 on Melton Road, 43 on St Matthew’s Way and 54 on Vaughan Way.
Council documents say the expressway would work hand in hand with the establishment of a ‘Leicester City Centre Environmental Zone’ within the inner ring road.
The document says: “The concept initially involves controlling goods vehicles entering the zone at various locations either by using physical barriers or cameras that can record number plates.
“Both need enforcement mechanisms, however, the former would rely on non-removable transponders which when fitted to vehicles would control the barrier and access to the zone.
“This information would give details of vehicle Euro emissions standards to allow or prevent access or access could be linked to CO2 emissions.
“Message boards prior to approaching barriers could inform drivers as to the status of their vehicle with reference to the access criteria.
“Clearly, drivers would need to be made aware as soon as possible perhaps via message boards on all radial routes.
“There would also need to be a mechanism to allow temporary access for non local vehicles and dispensation for non-compliant vehicles that happen to reside within the zone.
“Camera enforcement would involve issuing fines to non-compliant vehicles via a number plate recognition system similar to the system operated for the London Low Emission Zone.
“Similar to access controls, dispensation rules would need to be developed for businesses operating from within the zone.”
Deputy mayor Councillor Adam Clarke, who holds the city council’s environment portfolio, said the expressway was being considered as part of a freight study for the city.
He said: “We have been looking at the feasibility of it but it would be complex and putting in the infrastructure would be very expensive.
“It may be we will be able to bring our air pollution levels down below the targets with other measures before we get to the point of a freight consolidation depot.”