North Staffordshire business leaders call for total rethink of bus gate and clean air zone

Business leaders have written to Government ministers raising major concerns over plans to introduce a bus gate and a clean air zone on key commuter routes in North Staffordshire.

One scheme will stop almost all private motorists travelling westbound on Etruria Road (Basford Bank) from the A500 junction towards Newcastle-under-Lyme during morning and evening rush hours. *

And a clean air zone is to be introduced from Victoria Road, Fenton, encompassing Stoke-on-Trent’s city centre, which will see the owners of older buses, vans, lorries and other transport vehicles charged if they don’t meet agreed emissions standards.

The Government has instructed local councils to implement both schemes to reduce illegal levels of air pollution (NO2) detected at these traffic hotspots in a bit to protect people’s health.

But many firms based in the vicinity, or using the routes, believe they will have a hugely detrimental effect on their ability to do business and will severely hamper employees commuting to and from work. 

Do you think the bus gate and clean air zone (CAZ) will have a detrimental effect on your business? *

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Now Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has written to Transport Minister Jesse Norman and Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Rebecca Pow asking for a rethink.

The Chamber, which is the voice for more than 1,200 businesses and organisations, describes the decision as a “sledgehammer to smash a nut”. And it says it doesn’t take into account bigger-picture issues such as creating new pollution hotspots, forcing congestion elsewhere and new road schemes – such as the Etruria Valley Link Road.

Chamber Chief Executive Sara Williams, pictured above, said: “In less than three years, our business community has been forced to cope with a pandemic, supply chain issues, inflationary pressures, soaring energy costs, rising interest rates and a tight labour market.

“The imposition of measures to improve air quality may prove to be a tipping point for many of our local businesses and we call for a complete rethink of what is proposed.

“While we agree with the overarching aim to reduce air pollution and support the importance of protecting and promoting health, we feel concerned about the levels of consistency being applied when it comes to rolling out measures to tackle pollution.”

In terms of the bus gate scheme, Sara added: “The issue of air quality exceedance along Etruria Road will merely be displaced rather than reduced to what is deemed acceptable.

“There are many businesses based along Etruria Road and nearby Festival Park and their employees will find it more challenging to reach their place of work each day.

“Staff who work in these areas may choose to work elsewhere, rather than facing circuitous routes to get to and from work or sitting in lengthy traffic queues at peak times of the day.”

Commenting about the Clean Air Zone, Sara said: “When looking at the impact of a new Clean Air Zone in an area stretching from Fenton to Joiners Square and Hanley, we are really concerned about the financial cost faced by businesses based in this area.

“Any businesses with vans and lorries which do not meet emissions standards, will be forced to upgrade fleets or pay a charge each time when entering the CAZ area.

“If deliveries are made by vans and lorries which do not meet emissions standards, this charge may be passed on to the business based in the CAZ, who will face the dilemma of having to absorb the cost or pass it on to the customer.”

All three local authorities affected – Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council – are understood to have raised concerns with Government and are carrying out impact assessments. Daily Focus has approached them for a comment and is awaiting a response.

* For a full list of which vehicles will be affected by the Basford Bank bus gate and CAZ click here