Leeds’ clean air plans ‘lacking credibility’

The Road Haulage Association has accused Leeds City Council of using inaccurate and out-of-date information in their Air Quality Consultation.

Richard Burnett, the association’s chief executive, says that using the wrong data is misleading and that the council has over-estimated the number of Euro VI trucks that will be used in the Clean Air Zone by 2020.

Leeds City Council maintains that 94 per cent of HGV journeys in the CAZ in 2020 will be made by Euro VI lorries, but the Road Haulage Association insists their claim is based on the misreading of information from DEFRA – which used old, unpublished Transport for London data relevant to the capital and covering a different time period.

Burnett said: “Using the wrong data is misleading. How can Leeds’ residents, businesses and stakeholders have any confidence in a consultation that fails to offer them a balanced and accurate view? Leeds’ CAZ proposal is poorly thought out and will be devastating for many businesses. The city council needs to come up with a plan that targets emission sources proportionately instead of simply hitting hauliers with ridiculous charges and hoping for the best.”