Fewer HGVs

Heavy goods vehicles are a major source of congestion and pollution - but tackling their impact without harming local businesses is a real challenge. We have secured European funding for project that will enable us to understand how we can best restrict HGVs in Bath.

It involves setting up a depot close to ring road and M4 where HGVs can deliver their goods, rather than driving into the city. Smaller vehicles, likely to be electric-powered and therefore less polluting, will take the goods into Bath and bring back packaging on their return journey.

Positive effects
Sixty-three retail outlets signed up to a similar scheme in Bristol and the effects have been very positive. For example, over one year it cut the number of vehicles in the city centre by 7,636, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by more than 22 tonnes.

We hope the scheme will reduce the number of larger delivery vehicles in our narrow streets and also help improve air quality. Hauliers will also benefit because it will save their vehicles considerable time.

Restrictions on HGVs
We are also investigating how we can restrict the number of HGVs that travel through the city centre. We have obtained funding from the European Commission to carry out a study to examine the range of possible measures we could use. A demonstration project of the best option may also be carried out, if we can gain further funding.

Benefits for the whole community

Reducing the number of HGVs travelling through the city centre will help unclog the roads and improve air quality. This will mean that public transport can move around more freely.

Have your say about these improvements..