PLAN TO SHUT BUSY ROADS DURING RUSH HOUR
Controversial proposal to cut illegal levels of air pollution by 2022
TWO major roads could be closed to rush hour traffic as part of £13 million plans to cut illegal levels of air pollution in Stoke-on-trent.
The controversial proposal to ban private vehicles from Basford Bank and Victoria Road in Fenton for three hours every day is one option being considered by Stokeon-trent City Council, as it looks to comply with a government air quality direction.
Council leaders have been told they must reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels to acceptable levels by September 2022.
Closing the regularly congested Basford Bank and Victoria Road to all vehicles apart from buses and taxis during busy periods would achieve this aim in the shortest timeframe. This would involve spending millions of pounds on bus gates and other measures.
Talks are continuing between Stoke-on-trent City Council, its partners and the government. But a full business case for the proposals must be submitted by July 2021.
Now councillors are set to debate a motion which calls on the authority to oppose the road closure proposal and request more time from the government.
Conservative councillors Faisal Hussain and James Smith, who have submitted the motion, believe that such drastic measures are unnecessary, and could be a waste of money if emissions start to fall anyway due to the roll-out of electric vehicles.
Mr Hussain said: “We need to send a signal to the government that the measures they are imposing will impact businesses and everyone in the city.
“It will cut Newcastle off from Hanley at rush hour and stop residents accessing businesses along Victoria Road and the Dewsbury Road Industrial Estate via Fenton.
“We are asking our Members of Parliament to get the government to postpone these plans.”
Stoke-on-trent City Council and Newcastle Borough Council have been working on plans to reduce transport-related NO2 emissions since 2018.
The two authorities were required to come up with proposals to improve air quality, with a chargeable ‘clean air zone’ (CAZ) being the default option.
A CAZ involves charging motorists whose vehicles exceed certain emissions standards. The first CAZS are due to be introduced in Bath and Birmingham next year.
Council leaders were both opposed to a North Staffordshire CAZ, and hoped the government would accept alternatives, such as speed and turning restrictions.
A city council spokesman said: “We believe that air quality compliance could be achieved within about a year of the deadline date, without taking directive action which will cost millions of pounds to the public purse.
“One of the options that would achieve air quality compliance in the shortest possible times would see traffic management restrictions on Etruria Road and Victoria Road.”