Draft Freight Strategy Consultation

Ends on 20 December 2024 (41 days remaining)

12.0 Conclusion

Whilst the authority is not well served by alternatives to road freight, the road freight network through Central Bedfordshire enables a high proportion of through traffic to use the Designated Freight Route Network, and freight with an end destination in Central Bedfordshire to use designated freight routes for all but the last part of their journey. This means that wherever reasonably practical freight movements should be limited in urban areas to all but essential journeys, either where access is required or no alternative through route is available. Where this isn't the case, and the Council are made aware of a particular issue we can investigate further.

Central Bedfordshire continues to grow; that growth will inevitably bring an increase in large goods vehicle movements to the authority. The measures we currently have in place should effectively manage additional large goods vehicle movements with potentially some adaptions needed to accommodate certain developments.

The aspiration to improve existing and to increase the provision of rest facilities for large goods vehicle drivers would resolve some of the capacity issues the area currently faces and discourage the use of less appropriate locations.

12.1 Scheme generation

A list of proposed schemes that will be implemented throughout Local Transport Plan 4 will be generated from the following sources:

Scheme requests generated through the engagement and consultation process for this document and Local Transport Plan 4.
Ad hoc scheme requests or complaints received, including petitions, where action is deemed appropriate.
Freight related schemes identified by officers.

All proposed schemes will be prioritised using the Scheme Prioritisation Framework and delivered depending on available budgets.

12.2 Funding

The Integrated Transport Block (ITB) is the main source of funding the Council receives from central government for highway improvements. A proportion of this budget will be available on an annual basis for the duration of Local Transport Plan 4 to implement freight related schemes that will further enhance the DFRN, and to investigate any freight related complaints that are received and, where necessary implement improvements.

In addition, a development may generate a freight related scheme; this would usually be funded by the developer. On occasion, national government may provide funding for major schemes.

12.3 Proposed actions

The proposed actions identified in each section throughout this strategy are listed in the following table. Each proposed action is attributed to a service area to ensure that each action is related to the correct legislation and is deliverable. Measures that Central Bedfordshire Council are supportive of are areas where we don't have any legal powers but will work to influence those that do or encourage those that the action relates to, to make positive improvements.

12.4 Proposed actions table

Reference	Category	Description	Related Freight Strategy objective(s)	Highways	Planning	Supportive	Environmental
1a	Routing of large goods vehicles	The Council will encourage large goods vehicles to continue to use the most appropriate routes as set out in the Designated Freight Route Network (DFRN), and use measures such as signs and weight limits to enhance it.	To promote the safety of all road users. To enable the efficient movement of freight in Central Bedfordshire, to ensure that businesses and services can thrive. Encourage freight operators to use the most appropriate routes, to minimise the negative impact freight movements may have on local communities.	√
1b	Routing of large goods vehicles	The Council will continue to investigate and respond to complaints relating to the routing of large goods vehicles, and where appropriate implement measures to encourage use of the Designated Freight Route Network wherever possible.	To promote the safety of all road users. Encourage freight operators to use the most appropriate routes, to minimise the negative impact freight movements may have on local communities.	√
2a	Rest facilities	The provision of lorry parking and waiting facilities for all new industrial and commercial units, including quarries and waste management facilities must be made on site unless suitable alternative HGV parking and waiting facilities are available within the locality.	To promote the safety of all road users. To enable the efficient movement of freight in Central Bedfordshire, to ensure that businesses and services can thrive.		√
2b	Rest facilities	The Council will promote the need for further provision of formal long stay (overnight) rest facilities for large goods vehicle drivers in appropriate locations with suitable facilities, particularly along the A1 corridor, and will consider the requirement for such provision as part of the new Local Plan.	To promote the safety of all road users. To enable the efficient movement of freight in Central Bedfordshire, to ensure that businesses and services can thrive.		√
2c	Rest facilities	The Council will safeguard existing lay-by facilities for large goods vehicle drivers to use for short rest breaks.	To enable the efficient movement of freight in Central Bedfordshire, to ensure that businesses and services can thrive.	√	√
2d	Rest facilities	The Council will continue to investigate and respond to complaints relating to large goods vehicles parking on the public highway which leads to road safety concerns, environmental damage, or noise concerns in residential areas.	To promote the safety of all road users. To support freight operators in minimising the environmental impact of freight movement in Central Bedfordshire.	√
3a	Servicing and deliveries	Waiting and / or loading restrictions and loading bays could be implemented to manage large goods vehicles waiting or loading on the public highway.	To promote the safety of all road users.	√	√
3b	Servicing and deliveries	The Council will ensure that provision for servicing and deliveries are adequately catered for in new developments.	To promote the safety of all road users.		√
4	Development related freight	The Council will manage and mitigate the impact of large goods vehicle movements related to new development as far as practicable using planning conditions, Transport Assessments and Travel Plans.	To promote the safety of all road users. Encourage freight operators to use the most appropriate routes, to minimise the negative impact freight movements may have on local communities.		√
5	Rail freight	The Council will support regional partners and the rail industry in promoting rail freight proposals that increases the opportunity for freight to be transported by rail as opposed to by road, provided that these proposals will not have an excessively detrimental impact on the amenity of nearby communities.	To support freight operators in minimising the environmental impact of freight movement in Central Bedfordshire.			√
6a	Sustainability	The Council is supportive of businesses that take steps to reduce their carbon footprint in relation to the transportation of goods, including innovative 'last mile' delivery solutions that reduces the number of vans and large goods vehicles in residential streets.	To support freight operators in minimising the environmental impact of freight movement in Central Bedfordshire.			√
6b	Sustainability	The Council will continue to monitor air quality in the authority and put in place action plans where pollutant levels exceed the air quality objective levels set by government.	To support freight operators in minimising the environmental impact of freight movement in Central Bedfordshire.				√
6c	Sustainability	The Council will continue to raise awareness of engine idling through campaigns and publicity.	To support freight operators in minimising the environmental impact of freight movement in Central Bedfordshire.				√

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