For a full update on the bus gate and clean air zone, including what it means for you and your business, click here.
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I am exhausted by the bureaucracy, tick box exercises, planning and environmental regulations which serve to kill productivity and growth and act as an economic terminal cancer. Only improvements in productivity will grow national prosperity. Despite today’s economic climate, growth now appears to be a dirty word amongst the Net Zero-obsessed political and media establishment.
As a local girl born and bred in Hanley, I am in the process of establishing a business on Basford Bank – a mini spa, restaurant, skin and laser clinic, and beauty salon which would be highly dependent on passing trade and footfall. This will bring much needed employment to the area. Over the past three years I have already had many obstacles in progressing to this point.
Now I am being told that passing trade is potentially being stopped (and more fines introduced) in favour of ‘clean’ air. The irony is that in addition to the emergency service vehicles, the vehicles that are ‘exempt’ are the most polluting of them all – buses, coaches and taxis which are constantly stop and starting. Can a sensible, forward-thinking approach be adopted, utilising the ‘conversion fund’ to electrify the buses and reduce particulate emissions. This would be a more favourable approach instead of destroying local businesses and causing chaos for residents. The positives simply do not outweigh the negatives.
I eagerly await the results of the Bus Gate review which will have a direct impact on this and all other neighbouring businesses.