“The pandemic
has seen an increase in goods traffic through certain of our villages and
market towns. This home delivery phenomenon has coincided with more residents taking
the welcome step of increasing the number of journeys they take by bicycle and
on foot. As well as serving to make our roads less safe for pedestrians and
cyclists, the rise in HGV traffic has contributed to air pollution and affected
the wellbeing of residents, who are subjected to the noise and vibrations
emitted from larger vehicles.
Many rural roads
were not built for the present volume of HGV traffic and it is reasonable to
conclude that there will be adverse consequences for the surfaces of many of
our highways if this increase does not abate. Moreover, it is a regrettable
fact that even where weight restrictions are implemented, they are too often
ignored.
This Council
resolves to agree a comprehensive HGV route network for Oxfordshire and to
facilitate reasonable measures to assist and encourage:
1.
Communities to report HGV restriction
infringements;
2.
Thames Valley Police to take appropriate action
against persistent offenders;
3.
Technology and haulage companies to incorporate
this Council’s route network and advisory freight routes within their GPS
systems;
4.
Delivery firms to switch increasingly to hybrid
or electric vehicles; and
5.
The installation of appropriate and enforceable
20mph speed limits, together with physical highways restraints, in the areas
worst affected.
6.
To implement a agreed Cross County wide network
of HGV routes.”
Minutes:
With the consent of Council, Councillor Eddie Reeves moved and Councillor Stefan Gawrysiak seconded the following motion, amended at the suggestion of Councillor Duncan Enright as follows:
“The pandemic has seen an increase
in goods traffic through certain of our villages and market towns. This home
delivery phenomenon has coincided with more residents taking the welcome step
of increasing the number of journeys they take by bicycle and on foot. As well
as serving to make our roads less safe for pedestrians and cyclists, the rise
in HGV traffic has contributed to air pollution and affected the wellbeing of
residents, who are subjected to the noise and vibrations emitted from larger
vehicles.
Many rural roads were not built for
the present volume of HGV traffic and it is reasonable to conclude
that there will be adverse consequences for the surfaces of many of
our highways if this increase does not abate. Moreover, it is a regrettable
fact that even where weight restrictions are implemented, they are too often
ignored.
This Council resolves to base
the new Freight and logistics strategy agree a comprehensive HGV
route network for Oxfordshire on the principle of “avoid-switch-improve”.
Working with
local firms, the Road Haulage Association and neighboring authorities, the
Council will establish a Regional Network of well-serviced HGV through routes,
and bring in and to facilitate reasonable measures to
assist or encourage:
1. Communities to report HGV restriction infringements;
2. Thames Valley Police to take appropriate action against persistent offenders;
3.
Technology and haulage companies to reflect the
Strategy incorporate this Council’s route network and advisory
freight routes within their GPS systems;
4. Delivery firms to switch increasingly to hybrid or electric vehicles; and
5. The installation of appropriate and enforceable 20mph speed limits, together with physical highways restraints, in the areas worst affected.
6.
To implement a agreed Cross County wide network of HGV
routes.”
Following debate, the motion as amended was put to the vote and was carried by 17 votes to 0). (unanimously).
RESOLVED:
“The pandemic has seen an increase
in goods traffic through certain of our villages and market towns. This home
delivery phenomenon has coincided with more residents taking the welcome step
of increasing the number of journeys they take by bicycle and on foot. As well
as serving to make our roads less safe for pedestrians and cyclists, the rise
in HGV traffic has contributed to air pollution and affected the wellbeing of residents,
who are subjected to the noise and vibrations emitted from larger vehicles.
Many rural roads were not built for HGV traffic and there will be adverse consequences for many of our highways if this increase does not abate. Moreover, it is a regrettable fact that even where weight restrictions are implemented, they are too often ignored.
This Council resolves to base the
new Freight and logistics strategy for Oxfordshire on the principle of
“avoid-switch-improve”.
Working with local firms, the Road
Haulage Association and neighboring authorities, the Council will establish a
Regional Network of well-services HGV through routes, and bring in measures to
assist or encourage:
1. Communities to report HGV restriction infringements;
2. Thames Valley Police to take appropriate action against persistent offenders;
3. Technology and haulage companies to reflect the Strategy within their GPS systems;
4. Delivery firms to switch increasingly to hybrid or electric vehicles; and
5. The installation of appropriate and enforceable 20mph speed limits, together with physical highways restraints, in the areas worst affected.