A new initiative has been launched today to improve reliability and movement for freight vehicles in central London.
The Central London Freight Quality Partnership (CLFQP) brings together seven London local authorities, Transport for London (TfL), Central London Partnership (CLP) and the freight industry. It is being funded by TfL and led by CLP.
Chairman of CLFQP and Professor of Logistics at the University of Westminster, Michael Browne, said lorries and vans made up 23% of all vehicle movement in the central London congestion zone.
“Over the next 10 years the population of London is anticipated to increase by a further 800,000 and estimates show there’ll be a 15 per cent increase of freight on the network,” Professor Browne said.
“As a retail, commercial and cultural hub, central London attracts around 240,000 goods vehicles per week day. Any increase in freight movements will definitely cause additional strains on an already overcrowded road network.
“A vital part of any business is the ability to efficiently move goods, services and people, so it’s crucial that we improve London’s transport infrastructure, through initiatives such as CLFQP, to retain our status as the prime location for international and national business.”
CLFQP aims to:
reduce vehicle impacts - optimising delivery routes and using the right vehicle for the right job will encourage a reduction in freight vehicle movements. CLFQP will also investigate other options for freight movement such as using consolidation centres, modal shift to rail or river and encouraging use of new technologies to reduce impacts of air pollution and noise levels so central London’s general environment is improved
business improvements – efficient freight movements will produce benefits for business including cost savings, more reliable deliveries, improved work environments and reduced numbers of accidents or near misses
reduce the cost to business in number of fines – working with businesses and enforcement agencies to review current policies and sharing best practice to have a consistent approach across local authority boundaries, to reduce the number of penalty charge notices issued.
Guest speaker at the launch, Christophe Ripert, Head of Urban Goods Transport for the City of Paris, outlined the work Paris had done to improve freight movement. This includes timed bans on vehicles over a certain size and on polluting vehicles, governing night deliveries by noise regulation and encouraging a modal shift from roads to waterways.
Dick Halle, Strategy Director at Transport for London said TfL and the London local authorities recognised the importance of working together and had established freight quality partnerships across the capital.
“TfL has funded the establishment of five FQPs for North, South, East West and Central London. Last year we launched the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) to offer incentives and encouragement to freight operators who adopt best practice, while addressing illegal and dangerous road behaviour. Around 70 operators are currently involved in the scheme's pioneer phase.
“TfL's Freight Unit will also be carrying out research into the issue of parking, both for drivers to take statutory breaks and for safe loading/unloading of vehicles.”
Membership to CLFQP is free of charge and open to individuals and organisations that have an interest in improving freight movement in central London. For more information visit www.centrallondonfqp.com
CLFQP members are:
• Transport for London and Central London Partnership
• London Boroughs of Camden, Islington, Southwark and Lambeth; Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; Westminster City Council and City of London Corporation
• freight transport, distribution and service companies and their industry associations, including the Freight Transport Association, Brewery Logistics Group and Association of International Couriers and Express Services
• local businesses and employers, receiving deliveries and requiring services such as retail outlets, restaurants, bars and pubs, supermarkets and corporate businesses
• public sector organisations including the Greater London Authority (GLA), Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and Metropolitan Police.
About Central London Partnership
Central London Partnership (CLP) is a not-for-profit, private/public sector partnership involving decision makers and opinion formers from a range of organisations, working together to identify and tackle common priorities for central London. From establishing new ways of managing central London’s streets to lobbying for greater investment in the area, CLP tackles a wide variety of complex issues at both strategic and grassroots levels to preserve London’s competitiveness and enhance quality of life across the city.