Lib Dems say no to HGVs in Ashbourne

Derbyshire Dales Politicians Call for Heavy Lorries to be Banned from Ashbourne Town Centre to Reduce Pollution Levels

Liberal Democrats alongside other opposition Parties at Derbyshire Dales District Council have called for Heavy Goods Vehicles to be banned from the centre of Ashbourne, as part of a plan to reduce dangerously high levels of atmospheric pollution.

Nitrogen dioxide emitted from diesel exhausts have been found to be at levels that could potentially have long term public health effects, particularly along Buxton Hill and St Johns Street. Latest figures show a weekday average of almost 7,300 vehicles on the A515, the main road through the market town, with HGV's accounting for 46% of nitrogen dioxide emissions.

Because of the pollution levels, the Council has been forced to prepare an Air Quality Action Plan - but the draft version produced in collaboration with Derbyshire County Council, makes no mention of proposals to reduce the number of HGV's. Instead it talks about measures such as electric charging points and removing some of the tree cover. With proposals for the long awaited Relief Road remaining in the distant future.

Lib Dem Leader Steve Flitter, Labour's Mike Ratcliffe, Neil Buttle of the Green Party, together with Independent Clare Gamble have joined forces to demand that the Action Plan, which has to be submitted to the Government, includes specific proposals to reduce the number of HGV's passing through Ashbourne.

In a joint statement they said, "Ashbourne residents need practical solutions to this problem, which has been getting worse every year. It is totally unacceptable for people's health to be put at risk, whilst we wait for what could well be 10 or 20 years for a by pass to be built. We are asking that the Action Plan should make firm proposals to limit the size and number of HGV's that can use the A515 and the town centre streets. We are recommending that these proposals include a weight limit of 7.5 tonnes, and the County Council work with haulage companies to identify alternative routes. Not only will this dramatically reduce the level of pollution, it will enable residents to have a town centre that they can enjoy without the disruption and danger from the constant stream of lorries that they currently have to endure".