Leeds ban leads to trucking chaos
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/ Operators in Leeds faced chaos this week as the City Council introduced and effectively scrapped a lorry ban within a day — and then decided to bring it back with new signs in a modified form.
The ban was introduced on Monday (28 September) in a bid to stop goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes GVW from using the A642 between the Al and M62. It also excluded them from a zone around Castleford unless they held exemption permits.
But Leeds City Council has agreed to reword the signs to indicate exemptions following complaints by the Freight Transport Association and Road Haulage Association. While this work is carried out the ban will not be enforced.
John Hix, FTA assistant regional secretary in Leeds, says these permits are not needed for trucks carrying goods to or from any premises in Castleford; premises on or adjacent to the A642; any road only accessible from the A642; or to any of the four British Coal establishments in the area.
Although the council has issued over 200 permits there is concern that the ban has been introduced on a primary route meant for commercial vehicle traffic.
The Samuel Smith brewery of Tadcaster, near York says it has been refused permits, although it uses the A642 between its base and Wakefield. Transport supervisor David Goodwin says: Our drivers are estimating that the ban could add as much as an hour to the journey. It will cause considerable inconvenience."