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Cycle Lane decision divides Norwich Highways Agency

3rd April 2008, Page 12
3rd April 2008
Page 12
Page 12, 3rd April 2008 — Cycle Lane decision divides Norwich Highways Agency
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By Chris Tindall THE GROWING ROW over the use of bus and cycle lanes in Norwich by freight consolidation centre lorries has split the committee that will decide whether or not to trial the plans.

Members of the Norwich Highways Agency Committee, made up of Norwich City and Norfolk County Councillors, are deeply divided on an experimental order that will allow Foulger Transport vehicles to use the cycle lanes in the city.

The county council hopes that the plans will boost interest in retailers using the consolidation centre situated outside Norwich.

However, city councillor and Liberal Democrat committee member Judith Lubbock has successfully tabled a motion to oppose the scheme, meaning that the city and county councils are now pitched against each other over the proposal.

Lubbock says: "They're offering a freight inducement to allow LGVs the use of bus and cycle lanes, but there's not a lot of congestion in the city. There's very little incentive."

Lubbock adds that she fears for the safety of cyclists if the order is given a green light. She adds: -Ifs bad enough with buses passing you at 40mph. I don't think it's of much benefit to the freight consolidation centre. LGVs come into the city freely, apart from an hour a day."

The county council's Norwich area transportation co-ordinator, David Sprunt, says he's unaware of the city council's opposition. He says: "It might be the city's view, but they would have to feed that into the committee and they would take a decision," he says. "In this instance, there would be between two and five lorry movements a day. Our view is it has minimal impact on the use of bus lanes."

Foulger Transport's business development manager, Graham Mayes, has previously told CM that there would be no more than one vehicle a day using the cycle lanes, due to poor uptake from retailers.

The committee's decision is expected on 22 May.


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