Committee Receives Lorry Petition

6.13.00pm GMT Thu 13th Mar 2008

A petition of over 500 signatures was today handed over to the Norwich Joint Highways Committee meeting, objecting to proposals to allow some lorries to use the bus/cycle lane on Newmarket Road.

Eaton Councillor Judith Lubbock and Norwich South Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman led the petition, and were present at today's meeting.

Cllr Lubbock, who formally proposed the petition to the Committee, said:

"The authorities have not communicated with the public, and we felt that it was very important to do so. We launched this petition to let people know what was going on, and to give people the chance to object - and people have done so overwhelmingly."

"The committee's response was disappointing in that they have not agreed to go back on their decision. However, it was indicated that further views would be sought and brought back to the committee in May. This means there will be some delay on our original expectations, which were that the scheme would be trialled later this month."

Mr Wright added:

"It is really important that all interested parties make their views clear to the Highways Committee. We will certainly continue to oppose this plan, and we will encourage people to give their written objections to the City and County council before the committee meeting in May when there will be a further report."

The proposal to allow some HGVs to use the bus/cycle lane is part of a six-month experiment to encourage delivery companies to make use of a freight consolidation centre on the A11. This scheme aims to reduce the number of lorry journeys into the city.

Cllr Lubbock said:

"We have no objection at all for the principle of a freight consolidation centre. In fact, it's a very good idea. Our objection is that the lorries from this centre will be able to use the cycle lane. The gain of a few minutes by the lorries using the bus/cycle lane is not worth the possible loss of a life "