Traders within a proposed clean air zone fear the charges imposed will have a ripple effect on their business.
A clean air zone (CAZ) is planned to encompass Stoke-on-Trent’s city centre and down through Victoria Road in Fenton. It is expected to go live by 2025.
Some owners of buses, vans, lorries and other transport vehicles – but not private cars – will be charged up to £35 a day to travel into and within the zone if they don’t meet set emissions standards. *
As reported by Daily Focus, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has written to Government ministers raising major concerns over the plans.
Lymers Building Plastics has recently opened a new trade counter in Fenton following a £1 million investment. The company knew about the proposed CAZ when setting up just off Berryhill Road but still has big concerns about what could be brought in.
It had considered paying the charge for people to visit the site, but now estimates around a third of its customers – as well as some suppliers – will be affected.
Area Trade Counter Manager Tom Warren said: “Quite a few customers travel to us in older vehicles and these plans would put them off 100 per cent.
“Another concern links to our suppliers. It will have a big knock-on effect if they won’t come to us and we have to start using another one because then our costs are likely to go up.”
Tom added: “If this was to happen a few years down the line then things would be different, but people don’t have the money to upgrade their vehicles in these economic times.
“Considering the types of businesses around here, this isn’t going to have a positive impact on Stoke-on-Trent. It could cost jobs – and they aren’t plentiful at the moment.”
Neighbour SIG Roofing is in a similar position and could also be affected.
Branch Manager Marc Wright said: “Customers who come here are generally in transit vans and pick up vans, then we have deliveries in articulated lorries.
“My fear is that people would stop coming here and go somewhere else instead.”
The Government has instructed local councils to implement the CAZ and a bus gate on Etruria Road due to illegal levels of air pollution detected.
The three councils involved – Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council – have today issued a statement to say they are seeking Government approval to work up alternative solutions.
* The full details of the proposals, and which vehicles are affected, can be found here.
