Some 120 million tonnes of freight are moved in London each year and that is expected to increase by 10 per cent by 2030, according to Peter Hendy, the newly appointed transport commissioner for London.
Ninety two per cent of freight moving to and from London is carried by road transport, yet many industry experts believe that it lies low on the city’s list of priorities.
Speaking at the recent London Freight Summit 2006, Hendy outlined plans for delivering a reliable and sustainable future for freight in London. He said congestion charging has “consistently reduced vehicle speeds and numbers in London”. But, he said: “We need to think more strategically about how we use road space.” Hendy argued that a key alternative to the current system was the creation of legal loading and unloading spaces in the city centre, although he admitted that it would take a long time to implement.
Penalty Charge Notices have risen by 35 per cent in five years, according to statistics from the FTA. David Sheppard, deputy head of transport for the John Lewis Partnership, said: “The parking tickets issue is a whole new industry for us.”
