Breweries blast Royal Mile plan
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by Amanda Bradbury • Brewery transport operators say a proposed ban on all vehicles over 7.5-tonnes at peak times along Edinburgh's Royal Mile would force them to replace their trucks with vans, increasing transport casts up to 500%, and would hamper deliveries.
Extra drivers jobs could be created by the ban, which Lothian Region Council wants to introduce within three months to ease "pedestrian comfort".
A document outlining the plans is being been sent to the regional solicitor, leaving 21 days for public consultation.
Scottish & Newcastle Breweries says if the ban goes ahead it will look at replacing some of the 30 trucks it operates from its Edinburgh depot with vehicles under 7.5 tonnes It currently has two vans at this site. The company has lodged a formal objection to the ban: it serves more than 20 pubs which would be affected by the move Carlsberg Tetley says about six truckloads a week would be severely hampered by the ban. which it plans to oppose during the consultation process.
Tennents has already lodged its objection to the scheme and the FTA has joined Edinburgh's Chamber of Commerce in saying the ban would harm local businesses. The Royal Mile has 40 bars and restaurants along its length.
Lothian Regional Council says it has ruled out excepting delivery vehicles because this would make the proposed ban difficult to enforce—but Lothian & Borders police still say the ban would be "difficult to enforce given present resources".