Reading LEZ may be shelved by budget cuts
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chrislindaltrarhi.cn.uk READING'S PLAN to launch a low-emission zone (LEZ) targeting HGVs is looking uncertain after the government suspended funding ahead of its Comprehensive Spending Review, The ambitious proposal to introduce a Euro-5 level ultra-clean-air zone using millions of pounds of public money could even be shelved completely if the Department for Transport's (DIT's) budget is severely cut.
Earlier this year. Reading Borough Council said it could design and implement an LEZ scheme for £2m after it applied to the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) for .I.8.5rn for a series of 'clean air' initiaves (CM 25 February).
However, the council suffered a setback when the previous government proposed to replace TIF with an Urban Challenge Fund, meaning applications would have had to be resubmitted. But the DtT says that this plan is on hold until Octo
ber when the government reveals the extent of its spending cuts.
A spokesman says: "The previous administration had a proposal to replace TIE They were putting that out to consultation before the election. There has been no further movement on that yet; it's wrapped up in wider arrangements in the spending review process."
Gordon Telling, Freight Transport Association head of urban logistics, says the plan could be shelved: "The DET has been told to cut its budget by rup to] 40%, so it is having a very hard look at these sorts of schemes. Anything about air quality is probably lower down the list than other things."
A council spokesman says: "While there is currently no specific funding to take forward the LEZ at present, the council will continue to seek all opportunities to progress this to improve air quality in Reading,