One
of the largest UK transport and logistics companies, Meachers Global Logistics,
is paving the way in best practice when it comes to improving air quality
through logistical solutions in Southampton. It has a very unique offering
called the Sustainable Distribution Centre (SDC), located in Nursling, which
could help businesses create workable solutions if a Clean Air Zone were to be
introduced in 2019.
The SDC is already in
use by a number of clients across the south coast, including Steve Porter based
on the Isle of Wight. Meachers formed The Solent Alliance with Steve Porter and Red Funnel to
help reduce the number of vehicles travelling over to the Island on a daily
basis. Reducing the number of vehicles would clearly have a positive impact on
both the environment and the cost.
Meachers
are working with the Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) a neutral, not-for-profit,
technology and innovation company. TSC undertake research for the Department
for Transport and produced a White Paper called ‘The Benefit of Consolidation Centers’ which
explains the environmental and monetary benefits to organisations already using
the facility and the possible savings for others.
Written by Gary
Whittle, Commercial Director, Meachers Global Logistics,
@meachersglobal
If you would like to write
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Southampton
City Council’s My Journey Sustainable Travel team is partnering with Future
South to present The Sustainable City Expo 2018 on Wednesday 12th September.
Hear from experts in the field of sustainability, planning and transport and
have the opportunity to chat to industry professionals, local businesses and
experience some of the products and services on offer. The expo will be hosted
at the NST Theatre in Southampton and in the Guildhall Square.
Speakers
will include:
- Steve
Quartermain - Chief Executive at the Ministry of House, Communities and
Local Government
- Mike
Harris - Deputy Chief Executive at Southampton City Council
- Allison
Dutoit - Urban Expert at Gehl Architects
The
challenges of air quality and congestion alongside a desire for better quality
of living and working with smarter technology means that now is a golden
opportunity for change in your workplace.
Sign up
to the Sustainable City Expo today for your FREE place
Hundreds of
people attended our Clean Air Day festival on 21st June on
Guildhall Square, whilst others took advantage of a ‘one-day-only’ opportunity to
chill out in the Civic centre car park.
Whilst Clean Air
Day was celebrated across the country, Southampton led the way with an all-day festival. All types
of people attended, especially children, who engaged in a whole range of
activities.
School pupils from
Sholing Junior and Swaythling Primary Schools gave presentations about their
work in identifying causes of pollution around their schools, and ways that
everyone can combat these. St John’s Primary School pupils re-enacted the clean
air dance, which many audience members felt compelled to join in with!
In the heart of
the main festival on Guildhall Square, there was a ‘Bike Zone’ where children
and adults alike tried small balancing bikes, tricycles, cargo bikes and even
electric ones; and one lucky attendee even won a brand new bike! Bus companies
took part, as did owners of electric vehicles, all showing how people can make
a difference away from the regular car journey.
Southampton City Council (SCC) continues to roll out enhanced cycle
facilities along the SCN1 western corridor, with repairs to the road surface
along Third Avenue currently under construction until September. Proposals for
the installation of a segregated cycle facility to be installed along Third Avenue
are currently on public consultation.
In addition, works to complete Second Avenue
segregation will be carried out in October, and improvements will be made to
the Millbrook Road East road surface in October as well.
SCC has also begun works to improve cycle facilities
along SCN8 Quayside Road / Chessel Avenue / Peartree Avenue following on from a
successful public consultation engagement event. The scheme will
provide a cycle route which bypasses an air quality management zone, with works
to install this project commencing in early 2019. Investigations are underway
for cycle provisions along SCN5 The Avenue, linking London Road to facilities
in the Common and onto Bassett Avenue, with construction to occur early
in the new year.
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