Pidgeon Gets the Bird for Lorry Ban Plan

25 February 2016 | Updated 01 January 1970

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has weighed into the Mayor of London election with a heavy salvo against the Liberal Democrat candidate Caroline Pidgeon who wants HGVs and construction vehicles banned from the city centre daily from 7-10am and 4-7pm, enforced by Congestion Charge cameras, claiming the ban would improve air pollution and make roads safer for cyclists.

“Banning lorries at peak times makes no sense as deliveries still need to be made, so a medium-sized HGV would be replaced by 10 vans with increased emissions, congestion, cost and potential injuries to vulnerable road users,” argued Christopher Snelling, Head of National and Regional Policy, FTA. “Rather than ban lorries from our city centres, we need to focus on all aspects of road use to improve safety and pollution for everyone. HGVs can certainly play their part with cleaner Euro VI engines, revisions to mirrors and side guards and better cab design.”

Mr Snelling noted that the FTA had urged the government to offer incentives to enable operators to make the often costly changes to their fleets.

Ms Pidgeon has also called for the creation of edge-of-town ‘delivery hubs’ like those used during the London Olympics to avoid the need for large vehicles to enter the city centre. “Again, this will put more vehicles on already busy the roads,” complained Mr Snelling. “Simplistic lorry bans are unlikely to be the best solution in terms of safety and will make it harder to operate the businesses that London relies on every day.”

Picture: The battle for successor to Boris Johnson has Mayor of London has included a swipe at Lib Dem mayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon and the FTA

Article written by Robin Snow | Published 25 February 2016