The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has reacted to yesterday’s statement by Leeds and Birmingham Councils, that they are delaying the start of their Clean Air Zones, by saying it was the only step available to them, and the right thing to do.

FTA’s Head of UK Policy Christopher Snelling said: ”FTA has also been talking to the Government about these issues and agrees that the cities seem insufficiently prepared to have the necessary systems in place.  You cannot start a regulation without a reliable way to comply with it in place and tested – there is simply too much chance that things launched at the very last minute will go wrong, leading to chaos for HGV and van operators serving these two major cities”

“Whether you support CAZs or not, we can all agree that regulations must have the systems in place to make them work.  Leeds and Birmingham have done the right thing, indeed they are taking the only course of action available to them”

“Government needs to develop these systems asap and demonstrate they are reliable and accurate – only then should Councils definitively commit to start dates for any Clean Air Zones.” 

Efficient logistics is vital to keep Britain trading, directly having an impact on more than seven million people employed in the making, selling and moving 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.  

For more information on FTA please visit https://fta.co.uk

Freight Transport AssociationFTA

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