Olympics is London hauliers' number one concern
17 June 2011
Next year's Olympic Games are now the number one concern for those delivering freight into the capital, according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA), which warns that anxiety about the impact of next summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games among it members is growing.
The main reason is that an expected surge in demand fuelled by £2.8bn of tourist spending coincides with the narrowing, and in some cases complete closure, of delivery windows into the capital.
Existing delivery restrictions, such as the Lorry Control Scheme, will remain in force during the competition period also.
Natalie Chapman, FTA head of policy for London, says: "Potential Olympic disruption is causing those in the logistics sector many sleepless nights. The Olympics and Paralympics will mean that for around 100 days the logistics sector will have more to deliver and far less time to deliver it in."
Chapman believes a solution can be found in allowing more deliveries at night time, but this will require an easing of control restrictions by affected London Boroughs.
Early this month the Olympic Delivery Authority published its latest edition of its Transport Plan.
Chris Duce - Road Transport