FTA's precinct rethink call
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LORRIES should be given access to pedestrian areas, the Freight Transport Association says in a report published this week.
The report looks at schemes in 163 towns around Britain and explains to planners how to achieve pedestrianisation without restricting deliveries unreasonably.
Don McIntyre, FTA traffic officer, is not opposed to wellthought out schemes and acknowledges that removing traffic from a street and making it a pleasanter place can be worthwhile. More shopping activity may be generated in the pedestrianised streets, he added, but there is no evidence that total trade in those streets or the surrounding area increases.
Indeed, the continuing erosion in driver and vehicle productivity suggests an overall loss to the economy. Mr McIntyre said.
Mr McIntyre attacked the "illogical" thinking of architects of pedestrianisation schemes who wanted to prevent access for delivery vehicles from as early as 10 or 11am, the peak hour for deliveries.
The FTA is in favour of serviceonly precincts, Mr McIntyre explained. Provided that adequate arrangements can be made for the diverted traffic, such a scheme can allow real improvements and safety for pedestrians, he said.