Deliveries in the city center in Lamballe-Armor: how to reduce nuisance? – Lamballe-Armor

In a few weeks, the Agglomeration of Lamballe Terre et Mer will entrust the firm Lestoux & Associés with a study on the delivery of goods in the city center. Why ? Because the last delivery mile is a source of many nuisances. “First there are the problems of traffic and congestion in the city center, especially since everyone can observe that the flow of deliveries is increasing with the development of digital commerce”, explains the mayor of Lamballe-Armor Philippe Hercouet.

“Last month, we broke the record for parcels distributed in one month with 6,500 units”, illustrates Nicolas Dezé, director of Carrefour Market and co-president of the Vitrines de Lamballe merchants’ association. “Over the past five years, the share of e-commerce has doubled in France,” adds David Lestoux.

The increase in the number of deliveries also raises road safety concerns. “60% of these deliveries in the city center are in violation of the Highway Code, with in particular double-file parking or on the sidewalk,” adds David Lestoux. Another problem: the cost, for transporters, of this last kilometer, which is often very high in terms of time and fuel. Finally, greenhouse gas emissions, coupled with the search for energy sobriety, but also the scheduled disappearance of diesel vehicles (which represent 90% of the transport fleet), have prompted the community to look into the subject. “Twenty half-empty trucks that deliver 20 different shops, that doesn’t make sense ecologically and economically,” notes Nicolas Dezé.

First, establish an inventory. “Before considering solutions, we must know precisely how it works currently”, states Thierry Royer, deputy mayor, in charge in particular of trade. “For example, we need to quantify these deliveries and their schedules,” continues David Lestoux. Merchants will therefore be asked, via a questionnaire, to detail their practices. Local carriers will also be involved in the study. The aim of the Lestoux firm’s work will also be to measure the impact of deliveries on the city centre. A task to which the Lamballais company is beginning to be experienced, since it has been commissioned on the same theme by large cities such as Strasbourg, Nantes or Grenoble.

At the end of the study, the Lestoux cabinet will have to imagine solutions to declutter Lamballe and its parking spaces. Among the current hypotheses: limit access to the city center for deliveries at certain times or create an outdoor storage place and then supply shops in the city center with an electric vehicle. Two tracks among others that will not necessarily be retained. The only certainty: “We are not here to annoy carriers, but to provide them with comfort”, emphasizes Thierry Royer.