Plain English Version
As the number of people living and working in the city centre grows more goods vehicles will want access to the city centre. We will have to find ways to reduce the impact of these extra journeys, either by reducing them or changing the design of streets.
Original Document
Increased residential population and expansion of retail and employment uses in the city centre will generate significant additional goods vehicle movements. Measures will be required to mitigate the effects of these vehicles on the function and quality of sensitive streets and on congestion generally, through improved street management and delivery consolidation.
Plain English Version
We could have a single place outside the city centre which coordinates all the van and lorry tips into the city. This hub (in a less sensitive area) is a place where big lorries break down their loads to be shared among low emission vans which then visit individual premises within the city centre. The hub would need to be close to the centre.
Original Document
One approach would be to develop an Urban Freight Consolidation Centre outside the city centre. This would create a ‘hub’ in a less sensitive built environment where large goods vehicles could trans-ship their loads to a fleet of small, low-emissions vehicles that would then redistribute the goods to individual premises within the city centre. The centre would need to be close to the centre to work efficiently.
Plain English Version
Or we could establish a network of suitable routes for service/delivery vehicles in each part of the city. This would involve routes, including certain bus lanes, that give priority to service vehicles at specific times. We would still need to reduce the number of journeys by finding ways for vans to travel with full loads to the right places.
Original Document
Another possibility would be to establish a network of suitable routes for service/delivery vehicles in each sector of the city. This would involve investigating a network of service routes, including certain bus lanes, that prioritises access for service vehicles during limited hours. As part of this network, methods for consolidating service deliveries would be explored to reduce the impact of servicing on city centre streets.
Plain English Version
There could also be a special zone where highly polluting vehicles are banned. Access in and out of this area could be controlled through an Urban Freight Consolidation Centre or by making drivers pay to go into the city centre. This would greatly improve air quality, health and quality of life in the city centre
Original Document
A low emission zone would significantly reduce traffic congestion by deterring the worst polluting diesel-powered goods vehicles, coaches and buses accessing the city centre or core through initiatives such as the Urban Freight Consolidation Centre or pricing mechanisms. In turn this would greatly improve air quality, health and quality of life in the city centre
Plain English Version
We can also limit the time when vehicles can be in the city centre. Businesses will have to learn to take deliveries at a time which is best for the rest of the public. This way we can reduce conflict between buses, pedestrians and deliveries.
Original Document
Time based vehicle restrictions could be introduced. These require businesses to better manage the delivery of goods and services to periods that do not conflict with other street activities and the quality of the public realm. In this way conflicts between deliveries and pedestrian or bus activity can be effectively managed.