Freight bodies urge Grayling to intervene in CAZ proposals

AIR QUALITY

Groups representing the HGV sector have called on transport secretary Chris Grayling to intervene in council proposals for charging Clean Air Zones.

Concerns about councils’ plans are raised in a letter to Grayling signed by the chief executive/directors of the BVRLA, Freight Transport Association, Road Haulage Association and the National Franchised Dealers Association.

They want a meeting with the transport secretary to discuss a six-point plan to minimise the impact of CAZs on HGV traffic. Their plan proposes: 

1. Improved traffic management to minimise the need to charge any road users, including HGVs

2. Granting exemptions from charging for deliveries taken at times when roads are less congested, for example at night

3. Allowing HGVs to use bus lanes at certain times 

4. A phased approach to any HGV charges, based on rising Euro standards 

5. A sunset clause to allow a reasonable amount of time for operators to upgrade vehicles

6. Common standards of signage

The groups say the current approach being taken by some councils “will in effect create an additional tax on thousands of businesses and disrupt supply chains across the country, whilst failing to deliver the significant air quality improvements that we all seek”.

“A number of local authorities appear to be primarily focusing on HGVs in term of proposed charging for CAZs,” they say. Councils are proposing different types of zone, which will result in a “mosaic effect” causing difficulties for HGV fleets that operate across the country.

They say councils appear to be proposing Euro VI as the immediate standard for HGVs, with vehicles below the standard having to pay a daily charge of £100. 

Even if an overwhelming number of HGV operators opted to immediately upgrade their fleets to Euro VI, the groups say there is unlikely to be sufficient HGV production capacity to deliver the vehicles ahead of the CAZs being introduced. 

In addition, the groups point out that, in contrast to buses, there is no approved Euro VI retrofit option for HGVs. Even if one were to be developed, the likely cost of retrofitting an HGV is estimated to be in the region of £16,000 to £20,000, so it would only be a potential option for operators of high-value specialist vehicles. 

The Freight Transport Association’s current estimate is that as many as six charging CAZs could be introduced next year in:

• Birmingham: – a council-wide zone covering HGVs and vans

• Southampton – size unknown, covering HGVs and possibly vans

• Derby – a city centre zone for HGVs and possibly vans, though the FTA says the council is still seeking to avoid charges 

• Nottingham – a city centre zone covering HGVs

• Leeds – the whole council area out to the motorways and covering HGVs

• Central London: covering HGVs and vans

From 2020 a further clutch of CAZs are expected:

• Sheffield – an unknown geography covering HGVs and possibly vans

• Middlesbrough – though the FTA says HGV management on the A66 could avoid the need for a CAZ

• Bath – a city centre zone covering HGVs and possibly vans

• Bristol – a city centre zone covering HGVs and vans

The FTA believes Greater Manchester and Coventry are trying to avoid charges.