Council ban to divert 2,000 heavy goods vehicles to M50

An extra 2,000 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are set to be diverted to the M50 every day following the ban on five-axle vehicles in Dublin's city centre from February 19th.

Dublin City Council yesterday announced details of the ban and the permit system for lorries that need to enter the city cordon for deliveries. Hauliers who break the cordon without a permit could face a prison sentence.

However, in a concession to hauliers, the council has agreed to pay the tolls for HGVs that have to use the East-Link bridge to access the south port, at a cost of up to €1 million a year.

It will not however pay the Westlink tolls on the M50, although it estimates that up to 2,000 extra HGVs will use the road each day after the ban. The council said it would not be giving a rebate for West-Link tolls because it had "no responsibility" for it, but was a shareholder in the East-Link bridge.

HGVs with five axles or more will be banned from the cordon area between 7am and 7pm. The cordon includes the area between the Royal and Grand canals, as well as Sandymount, Ringsend and part of the Navan Road. The ban has been introduced to maximise the benefits of the recently opened Dublin Port Tunnel.

HGVs that need to access the city centre for deliveries can apply to the council for a permit. The council estimates that 20-25 per cent of five-axle HGVs travelling along the city quays deliver to city-centre businesses.

Initially, permits are free, but from May 1st it will cost €5 per day for each vehicle entering the cordon. The permit is electronic and can only be applied for online. It requires the vehicle registration number, the haulier's authorisation number and the delivery destination. Haulage companies, drivers or the destination business can apply for the permit, but it is the driver's responsibility to ensure he has the permit before entering the cordon.

Even with a permit, the driver is restricted to using certain routes to travel through the city and can only enter the cordon at designated points. Once inside the cordon, they are entitled to make five stops to deliver or pick up goods. From April 18th, hauliers will only be allowed to deliver to premises within the cordon if the premises has registered with the council. The premises will have to submit a mitigation plan to the council to show how they intend to reduce the number of deliveries from five-axle HGVs.

Gardaí are responsible for enforcing the system and can use a HGV's registration to check if they have purchased a permit. Penalties for breaking the cordon are €800 for the first offence, €1,500 for the second offence and €1,500 and possible imprisonment for the third offence.

The council intends to "blacklist" frequent offenders or companies that apply for an unnecessarily high number of permits, and can refuse to issue permits. Initially, the council expects to issue up to 600 permits per day, but hopes this will decrease.

The ban will only affect very large lorries, and even some car transporters will be exempt if they have four axles. The council said it would consider widening the ban to four-axle HGVs in two years' time.

Certain vehicles, including overheight or "supercube" HGVs, are not allowed to use the port tunnel, but may apply for a free transit permit, allowing them to leave the port via East Wall Road.

HGV strategy: main points

 February 19th: ban on five-axle HGVs comes into force. Permits will be required to enter the city cordon area between 7am and 7pm.

April 18th: businesses within the cordon must register with the council if they wish to receive deliveries from five-axle HGVs between 7am and 7pm.

May 1st: €5 daily permit fee comes into force. Payment can be made online by credit card only.

Hauliers or companies breaching the permit scheme will be fined €800 for the first offence, €1,500 for the second offence and €1,500 and possible imprisonment for the third offence.