Logistics UK supports recommendations for amending night-time controls

The Greater London Authority (GLA) published its London Logistics Plan update paper on Friday 27 March, providing a framework to futureproof London’s long-term logistics needs, improve productivity and deliver good growth.

Within chapter four of the paper, it discusses the challenges and opportunities of efficient transport by enabling retiming and reducing movements of commercial vehicles on the capital’s road network. One challenge to achieving the retiming of journeys are the barriers put in place to restrict off-peak and night-time deliveries as laid out by the London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS).

To overcome the barrier, the GLA states that reducing the hours of control will allow for more logistics movements to be retimed to the off-peak and overnight period.

Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Manager – Road Freight Regulation Chris Yarsley said: “Logistics UK welcomes the publication of GLA’s Logistics Plan and supports its recommendations for looking at the hours in which logistics companies can deliver.

“This is a step in the right direction. Commercial vehicles are not on London’s roads by choice, but demand.

“The LLCS is a major hindrance to retiming deliveries and prohibits growth. Logistics UK is calling for changes to this scheme to ensure it aligns with the needs of logistics businesses.

“We will continue to engage with TfL on this issue and ensure our members’ voices are being heard.”