‘Green highway’ to the rescue in Yorkshire: 2

Using Britain’s canal system to move significant amounts of cargo could be a viable green alternative to lorries. 

’Green highways’ – locations and capacities

Signs of growth in Yorkshire . . . first commercial barge deliveries to Leeds in 20 years* – ‘a green model’ .

In September the Business Desk and many other media outlets reported that a new service had started, transporting marine dredged aggregates from Hull to Knudstorp, east Leeds.

Leeds City Council’s minerals planning policy officers earlier had decided to safeguard a number of wharves in the city from unsuitable developments. They included Knostrop and at Stourton which could be used to unload aggregates and construction materials, needed for infrastructure projects such as the Leeds South Bank development. Other cargoes, such as timber, oil and steel could also be transported from the Humber estuary to Leeds.

The Canal & River Trust’s economic regeneration plans for a new inland port at Stourton on the Aire & Calder Navigation on the outskirts of Leeds have been widely welcomed.

A June report for the members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) claimed that the new port, which would receive containers and other cargoes from the Humber ports, could move 200,000 tonnes of freight in its first year, create extra jobs and reduce carbon emissions by 100,000 tonnes.

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, the Rt Hon Jake Berry MP (above), pointed out that the new port will remove up to half a million tonnes of freight traffic from local roads and relieve traffic congestion.

He said: “I am excited to support this pioneering new project from the Canal & River Trust to create a new inland port at Stourton Wharf in Leeds . . .  (It) will create a host of new economic opportunities not just for people in Leeds but throughout this key region of the Northern Powerhouse”.

The Commercial Boat Operators Association (CBOA), the national trade organisation for barge and other commercial craft operators on the UK’s inland waterways, warmly welcomed this news, commenting that the site is well located in logistics terms, being close to motorway and rail connections.

With modest improvements to the navigation, barges could bring containers to Stourton, relieving road traffic congestion on the M 62 and reducing pollution.

Existing barges can carry up to 550 tonnes each – the equivalent of 27 lorries carrying 20 tonnes. With navigational improvements, it would be possible to bring Euro-Class 11 barges carrying 650 tonnes across from Europe.

In Yorkshire, bargemen had to find other jobs when the Lafarge sand traffic stopped c 2013. Now the Leeds traffic has started, attention is focussed on recruitment of younger folk, such as those returning from working on the declining North Sea sites.

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*Correction from the CBOA‘s David Lowe:  One small point on the Yorkshire link – the oft quoted ‘20 year’ period is incorrect. Steel was taken to central Leeds in 2007, and oil (albeit to Woodlesford on the outskirts) until 2013.

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Next: London’s use of waterway freight

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Leeds Inland Port development

Following a recommendation from its Investment Committee, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has approved funding for a new, £3.37 million wharf facility at Stourton in Leeds. The Canal & Rivers Trust has agreed to give match funding of £200,000 to this project as part of the Trust’s work with Transport for the North, identifying ways for moving freight in the North.

The development on thirteen acres of land owned by the Canal and River Trust would include a concrete apron with 80 metres of thick boards known as ‘sheet piling’ for boats to moor against and dredging of the waterway to make it easier to navigate. It should be completed 18 months from the funding award and move 200,000 tonnes of freight from road to water in the first year.

This new wharf will enable non-perishable freight such as aggregates, timber, oil and steel to be carried by water from the Humber estuary into Leeds. Construction material for South Bank Leeds, the new station for the city required for the HS2 rail line and the regeneration of Hunslet Riverside, could be brought into the city via the inland port.

In the Yorkshire Post, Rob Parsons commented: “Given the pressures that Leeds City Region is currently facing around traffic congestion and air quality, the use of waterborne freight could bring both commercial, environmental and health benefits. Creating the 80-metre mooring could move 200,000 tonnes of freight from road to water after year one, reducing road congestion and carbon emissions by 100 tonnes by the end of year three.

The Commercial Boat Operators Association (CBOA), the national trade organisation for barge and other commercial craft operators on the UK’s inland waterways, has warmly welcomed this news, commenting that the site is well located in logistics terms, being close to motorway and rail connections. With modest improvements to the navigation, barges would be able to bring containers to Stourton, relieving road traffic congestion on the M 62 and reducing pollution. Existing barges can carry up to 550 tonnes each – the equivalent of 27 lorries carrying 20 tonnes. With the navigational improvements, it would be possible to bring Euro-Class 11 barges carrying 650 tonnes across from Europe.

David Lowe, CBOA’s chairman, said “This is very welcome news and shows the commitment of the local authorities to seize the opportunity of doing something to take traffic off the roads – to the great benefit of local people.”

 

 

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