Plans to cut cars from driving through Birmingham city centre

Birmingham City council have published their new transport plan which proposes banning private cars from taking journeys through the city centre.

Private vehicles would be able to drive into the city from certain areas, but would have to drive back out and join the ring road to access a different part, rather than driving through the city centre.

Also outlined in the transport plan are the council's plans to introduce a clean air zone to the city from 1 July 2020. This will include all roads within the A4540 Middleway Ring Road, and be in 24 hour operation all year around, with vehicles that are pre-Euro 4 petrol or pre-Euro 6 diesel having to pay a fee.

As well as this the council have plans to encourage the greater use of public transport, walking and cycling by:

• introducing a Workplace Parking Levy;
• extending the city’s Controlled Parking Zones, which remove all free parking in certain areas;
• increasing Park and Ride provisions around the city;
• the pedestrianisation of city centre streets and better public transport integration.

There are also plans proposed to reduce speed limits in residential areas to 20mph as well as restricting lorries making daytime deliveries.

The council said they're 'prioritising people over cars' as they aim to make the city carbon neutral by 2030.

Cabinet member for transport and the environment at Birmingham City Council, Councillor Waseem Zaffar, said: ''Overdependence on private cars is bad for the health of ourselves and our families, bad for our communities and bad for business as measured by the millions of pounds of lost productivity caused by congestion. Ultimately, it is bad for the future because of the very significant damage caused by vehicle emissions and their impact on climate change.''

If the council's cabinet approve the plan on 21 January then public consultation on the new transport plan will begin on 28 January.