FTA to resist London Emission Zone
The United Kingdom’s Freight Transport Association Tuesday said it will fight London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s plans for a London Emission Zone (LEZ) to reduce particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
The proposed LEZ, due to come into effect February 2008, will include a daily charge of between '100 ($174) to '200 ($347) for older, more polluting heavy goods vehicles and buses moving through the capital city that are below Euro III emission standards. Cars will not be included in the LEZ. The minimum standard will rise to Euro IV level in 2010.
Richard Turner, chief executive at the FTA, which represents British shippers and logistics companies, said the association was not opposed to the principle of the scheme, rather the “unreasonable” financial strain it will place on its members.
Turner was speaking at the London Freight Summit, organized by the FTA as a forum to discuss solutions to congestion and pollution in London.
A number of FTA members expressed concerns about the cost of the two-tiered LEZ scheme in terms of retro-fitting their fleets to meet emissions standards, as well as the reliability of the existing technology.
“We will resist the London Emission Zone,” Turner said. “What we are prepared to do is work with the authorities to find a way of achieving the objectives without disrupting the supply chain and putting small operators out of business.”
Transport for London (TfL) said that 92 percent of the 125 million tons of freight that moves through London is transported by road. In 2003, TfL introduced a congestion surcharge for all vehicles, aimed at reducing traffic in the center of London at peak hours. Truck operators have complained loudly about the scheme, saying they have no choice to travel into the city center to deliver goods. The scheme will next year be extended westwards to the wealthy areas of Kensington and Chelsea. London also operates a maximum 20-minute loading and unloading regime.
“The industry is overburdened with a high number of legislative changes in London,” said Nigel Barton, operations director at TNT Express Delivery Services (UK).
Peter Hendy, the new Transport Commissioner for London, defended the initiatives, explaining that daytime traffic speeds in central London have improved by about 12 percent since the start of congestion charging to an average of just over 10 miles an hour. “I recognize that the industry feels like we are trying to run them off the road, but we need to keep this city moving to stay competitive,” Hendy said.
London’s population is projected to swell by another 800,000 over the next 10 years, contributing to a 10 percent rise in demand for goods and services. Also, construction work will soon start on projects related to the 2012 Olympic games.
“The vast increase in population has to be facilitated by the effective movement of freight,” Hendy said.
During the day-long conference, delegates examined methods of easing congestion on London’s roads including night time deliveries, consolidation centers on the outskirts of the city and increased use of the city’s rail and waterborne network.
Last year the TfL established a designated unit to liaise with London’s freight stakeholders. Hendy admitted the 13-man team was in its infancy and lacked information. “Help us by sharing data. While partnership with the FTA can be difficult, it is very useful. We have to continue in dialogue,” he said.
“This conference has been very important. It marks the move away from banning to planning. I am very encouraged by the partnerships,” said FTA’s Turner.