Birmingham is developing plans to introduce a Clean Air Zone by 2020. How will this affect courier work across the city? The Council wants to find out.
Like many cities getting to grips with the problem of pollution, Birmingham is reaching the final stages of planning its Clean Air Zone. To meet Government rules, the zone has to be in place by 2020.
The public will get to have their say on the plans by the end of the summer. However, this national hub really relies on courier work, haulage and logistics both practically and economically. This is why the Council has been working in collaboration with the logistics industry. They want to figure out how to make changes without negatively impacting this important industry.
The Plan
The City Council has suggested that all roads inside the A4540 Middleway ring road be part of the new Clean Air Zone. Vehicles that could be charged include:
- Lorries and vans
- Buses and coaches
- Taxis and private hire vehicles
- Private cars
Vehicles with ‘clean’ engines won’t have to pay. Birmingham City Council is under orders from the Government to meet legal air quality limits and it is just one of many regional centres working towards these targets.
Impact on the Industry
It’s well known that the haulage industrial is economically important to Birmingham and the City Council are certainly aware of this. They have been in consultation with a variety of bodies, including ACFO, to discuss how their plans could positively or negatively affect businesses. They also are interested in what local businesses might need to help them comply with the changes. For example, Government funding to make the switch to cleaner fleets.
It‘s great that the Council are having these consultations before plans are finalised as it means that the opinions and expertise of industry insiders will be taken into consideration. The final scheme will be as positive for the future of courier work as possible.
Everyone in the industry knows that change is coming. The Government’s targets of cleaner air by 2020 mean that all of us, from self-employed couriers to fleet managers, need to make sure that our long-term plans for fleet development include ways to meet emissions standards.
