Transport Plan: what can Birmingham learn from Ghent?
A controversial plan to ban cars from Birmingham city centre will today be put to the Council Cabinet ahead of a public consultation.
Last week we reported how Birmingham City Council plans to place a ban on cars in parts of the city centre, add 20-mph limits and ban cars outside schools, as part of Birmingham Transport Plan 2031.
More details of its pollution charge being introduced in July were also given.
The Transport Plans include:
Council teams say these and other measures are designed to prevent congestion and to allow public transport to serve more people.
But there's been anger from people who commute, as well as a major backlash on social media.
Birmingham City Council's plans are modelled on the transport success seen in the Belgian city of Ghent. It's described as Belgium's most authentic and quirky city.
So when it comes to tackling transport, what has the city of Ghent achieved ?
Ghent has the largest low-traffic pedestrian zone in Europe
The inner city of Ghent is considered as a low-emission zone
Ghent's City Council implemented their Circulation Plan in April 2017, in a bid to improve the city's accessibility and livability in the future
Ghent’s city centre is a pedestrian zone, so no cars are allowed
Some student residences have free parking spaces in the immediate surroundings
What else is Ghent famous for ?
The city promotes a "Veggie Day" every Thursday - the first city on earth with an official day to stimulate people into becoming vegetarian
It has been twinned with the Japanese city of Kanazawa since 1971
It is home to The Ghent Altarpiece by the Van Eyck brothers, completed in 1432. This painting is adored worldwide - and is also the most stolen work of art in history
First Belgian City with 40% less CO2 by the year 2030
Council teams in Birmingham say the city needs to find different and more eco-friendly ways of balancing their transport needs.
If the Cabinet approve the plans, the draft plan will then go out to public consultation from the 28th January 2020, before a final version is formally adopted by Birmingham City Council.
Watch Hannah Bechelet's full report below:
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