FTA: industry ignored over Reading Council LEZ proposal
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christintlatt78fagooglemait.com READING BOROUGH Council's bid for almost £59m of government money to create a low-emission zone (LEZ) has come as a bolt from the blue. the Freight Transport Association (ETA) says.
The application to the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) has surprised the ETA, because the council didn't consult the industry.
ETA policy manager Gordon Telling says the trade body has arranged a meeting with council officials next week due to concerns over castings and how it will differ, or not, from London's LEZ.
He adds: "I'm a little bit disappointed that a lot of work has been done at this stage without consultation from us."
The council says an LEZ is needed to clean up the air, and that -a charge of £5 for noncompliant buses and coaches, and £50 for non-compliant HGVs has been assumed".
Telling goes on to say: "I am concerned they are plucking the wrong figures out of the air; they are being woefully optimistic on price. They are probably looking at headline prices. I would be surprised if they worked out how much it costs to enforce." TfL's London LEZ cost more to set up and enforce than the revenue generated Reading Council did not respond to C:M's questions before we went to press, but in a press statement, the lead councillor for transport and planning, Tony Page, says: -Our partners have been fully engaged in the development of the TIF bid, and I'm confident we've submitted a cost-effective business case that will deliver innovative transport initiatives across the area."
Local haulier QTR Transport says it only heard about the plans last week. Managing director Paul White adds: "We are based in Reading town centre, so it will have a huge impact on us" -L, FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT: [.T wroadIransport.com