The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport has called for goods vehicle taxation to be replaced by a lorry user charging system based on road occupancy.
The idea is put forward in a report, UK Freight Planning to 2035, which examines the challenges facing the future growth of logistics capability in the UK. It also suggests that:
* Planning for urban hubs should be made a priority under the national guidelines, and local authorities given powers to purchase land and determine its use for such schemes. This would provide necessary consolidation and relieve congestion in our cities and major towns.
* All major distribution parks should be planned with a presumption of rail connection and suitable sites identified nationally and facilitated by local authorities. This measure will bring down the high cost of development and make a more effective market where national need is balanced clearly with local interests.
* Planning for infrastructure considered to be of UK national importance should take precedence over local agendas. The devolved governments should be engaged in the UK planning process to ensure that regional and national policy developments are aligned.
The report, which has been drawn up by a team of transport and supply chain professionals, headed by Professor Alan Braithwaite FCILT, says that adopting these measures will form an integrated policy that will in turn drive investment and growth and ensure the UK’s economy has the infrastructure it needs moving towards 2035 and beyond.
CILT chief executive Steve Agg said: “The UK is already congested and we cannot rely on market-driven solutions alone, we need direct policy input to facilitate engagement. This is about giving industry the confidence to invest to serve supply chains and meet the needs of local communities and national interests.”
The report is one of a series of in-depth examinations of transport and logistics in the UK and follows the CILT’s Vision 2035 report which was published in 2011.
CILT calls for shift to road occupancy tax for lorries
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