HGVs to use Cycle Lane

Published on Mon 14th Jan 2008

Judith Lubbock

Cllr Judith Lubbock criticises the decision by City and County Councils to allow HGVs from a Freight Consolidation Centre in Snetterton to use the Newmarket Road bus and cycle lane.

Dear Editor,

A decision has been taken by the City and County Councils to allow HGVs from a Freight Consolidation Centre in Snetterton to use the Newmarket Road bus and cycle lane. This will be for an experimental period of 6 months and while consultation takes place.

I agree with the principle of setting up a FCC to reduce the number of HGVs Nosh's Norwichs' roads, however I am against allowing these vehicles to share the bus and cycle lane on Newmarket Road. The FCC delivery vehicles should avoid the busy time of 7.30 - 9.30 each day, they certainly should not be allowed in the bus and cycle lane which operates 7 -7 each day.

Both the City and County Councils should be doing all they can to encourage cycling, not reallocating the road space to HGVs.

The speed limit on parts of the bus and cycle lane is 40 mph and I am very concerned for the safety of cyclists when both buses and HGVs are passing them at this speed.

As a City Councillor for Eaton through which the Newmarket Road runs I will campaign for a reduction in the speed limit to 30 mph and encourage objections to HGVs using the bus and cycle lane.

Objections should be sent to the City Council and I would be very pleased to hear cyclists' views on both these issues.

Yours sincerely

Eaton Ward Liberal Democrat City Councillor

Judith Lubbock