TruckandTrackAutumn2019

Truck and Track Autumn 2019 www.truckandtrack.com 26 FTA NEWS Experts agree that air quality across the UK is improving; nitrogen oxide emissions have fallen by 72 per cent since 1970. But with air quality still negatively affecting human health, there is stillmuchwork tobedone. Inan attempt to reduce pollutant levels, the government hasmandated that several cities across the UK, including Bath, Leeds and Bristol, must implement a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) or similar air quality improvement scheme. But while the logistics industry is more than willing to play its part in reducing its own emissions, FTA, which represents more than 17,000 logistics businesses, does not believe these schemes provide the most effective solution to improving air quality overall. While these air quality schemes differ in detail, the premise remains the same: vehicles which do not meet the prescribed emissions standards – Euro VI or 6 for diesel and Euro 4 for petrol vehicles – will be charged upon entering a city. In some cities, such as Birmingham, all types of vehicles – buses, coaches, taxis, minicabs, HGVs, vans and cars – will be included; in others, such as Manchester, cars will be made exempt. The logistics sector is fully committed to reducing its environmental impact, but we do question the methods proposed by the government. Most CAZs will bring thousands of businesses and operations into their scope, causing massive costs to principally small businesses. Furthermore, other solutions are able to deliver a quicker and more sustainable improvement to air quality, in the view of FTA, without impacting local businesses and their ability to trade effectively. According to FTA, CAZs will bring no long-term air quality benefit. Due to natural fleet replacement cycles, all vehicles operating within a city would reach the prescribed standard of compliance anyway within a couple of years; in just a few years after they begin they will be having no effect at all. The reason they are so ineffective is that they are not really about improving air quality – they are designed to achieve compliance with an arbitrary legal target so the UK Government does not have to pay a large fine to the EU, or annoy them at this delicate time in our relationship with them. The industry has already begun investing in diesel substitutes, with many businesses trialling alternatively fuelled vehicles and low carbon technologies. The government must now invest in suitable infrastructure – such as fast charging stations for electric vehicles located across the road network – to enable businesses to move away from diesel. To support this, councils should be encouraging the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles and implementing traffic management schemes that can have long termprogressive benefit, rather than concentrating on ineffective CAZs. Initially, Nottingham was of one the cities ordered to introduce a CAZ, but in a landmark decision – and after much campaigning by the city council – the government agreed it does not require a charging low emission zone to meet its air quality targets. This sets a welcome precedent that government will consider more tailored plans that reflect the needs of each community more closely; thankfully, other cities, including Southampton, have followed suit. FTAwill continue towork closely with local authorities to help them develop air quality plans that support businesses and the economy, while also allowing them to achieve their nitrogen dioxide reduction target. Efficient logistics is vital to keep Britain trading, directly having an impact onmore than sevenmillion people employed in themaking, selling andmoving of goods. With Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. A champion and challenger, FTA speaks to Government with one voice on behalf of the whole sector, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers. Air Quality Schemes: Is the government taking the right approach? By Christopher Snelling, Head of UK Policy, FTA Christopher Snelling, Head of UK Policy, FTA The updated proposals for a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Newcastle will hurt local businesseswhile failing to provide themost effective method to improve air quality, according to FTA, the voice of the logistics industry. With Newcastle City Council due to a launch a public consultation into its updated plans in late September 2019, FTA is calling on businesses to have their say once more. Margaret Simpson, Head of Policy for Scotland & Northern England at FTA, comments: “As the voice of the UK logistics sector, FTA is calling for Newcastle City Council to reconsider its proposals. FTA and its members are fully committed to improving the city’s air quality, but it is unfair to place this burden solely on the shoulders of local businesses and vehicle operators; we urge Newcastle City Council to include private cars in the Zone. After all, the logistics sector is the lifeblood of the city, providing businesses, schools and hospitals with the goods they need to operate.” Any bus, HGV, taxi, minibus, van, or private hire vehicle entering the proposed Zone which does not meet the highest environmental standards – Euro VI or 6 for diesel and Euro 4 for petrol vehicles – will receive a charge once the scheme comes into force in 2021. Miss Simpson continues: “CAZs do not provide any lasting benefit to air quality, as the Euro VI/6 vehicles required to enter a zone without charge will come into fleets of their own accord, as part of the natural fleet replacement cycle. In fact, by the start of 2021, FTA estimates that more than half of the UK truck fleet will already be Euro VI, meaning the scheme will soon be redundant. In the view of FTA, to secure long-term air quality improvements Newcastle City Council would be better placed to focus its resources on incentivising the uptake of ultra- low emission vehicles. “We are, however, pleased to see in the new plans that the geographical area has been significantly reduced, this will limit its impact on businesses operating in the area. We are calling on anyonewhowill be affected by the Zone to submit their response to the updated plans; do not miss this chance to have your say.” For more information on FTA please visit https://fta.co.uk Updated plans for Newcastle Clean Air Zone will still punish local businesses