Olympic preparedness tops concerns of London's freight operators, says FTA
Tuesday 14 June 2011
With next year's Olympics set to disrupt London’s supply chain for up to three months, anxiety among the Freight Transport Association's London members is growing. Earlier today, Olympic preparedness topped the concerns of FTA's London Freight Council members.
An additional £2.8 billion increase in spending by tourists is forecast from the Games. Naturally, to capitalise on this increased activity many retail businesses will be applying to stay open longer. However, the narrowing, and in some cases shutting, of standard delivery windows poses a significant concern to companies in the supply chain.
Natalie Chapman, FTA's Head of Policy for London, said:
“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. We believe that part of the solution can be found in allowing more deliveries to be made at night time, but this will require a temporary relaxation of lorry bans from some London councils.”
FTA, in association with the Noise Abatement Society, has pioneered the development of quiet delivery techniques that could be used to allow deliveries to take place at times currently restricted due to planning or noise abatement reasons. It is intended that these be used during the Games period to allow more deliveries to take place at night. However, as well as additional restrictions on the Olympic Route Network, other controls and restrictions on freight vehicles in London are expected to remain in force throughout the Games period.
Chapman concluded:
“We are advising members to think of the Games as a three-month Christmas trading period, with peak but unpredictable demand for goods and services overlaid on regular delivery patterns.
“The logistics sector can play the part of Britain’s Olympic hero and help deliver an amazing event that is memorable for all the right reasons. But more can be done to provide delivery flexibility and avoid landing operators with the dilemma of either breaking the law or keeping their customers happy.”
Notes for editors
FTA has been working with the Noise Abatement Society and the Department for Transport to commission a series of quiet delivery demonstration trials at retail premises across England. The trials illustrate the benefits of quiet deliveries free from curfew relaxations, while still protecting local residents from noise. The Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme is due to report later this month.
Olympic events in the London area will occur between Eton Dorney in the West, Hadleigh Farm in the East, Lee Valley in the North and Wimbledon in the South.
Key dates for the Games:
27 June – Venues open, media centre opens, soft opening of Olympic Village
13 July – Official opening of Olympic Village
27 July – Opening ceremony
28 JULY – 12 AUG Olympic Games
13-16 Aug – Olympic Games departures
29 August – Paralympic Opening ceremony
10-12 Sept – Paralympic Games departures
14 Sept – Olympic Park closes
The Olympic challenge:
20,000 journalists, photographers and broadcasters will be covering the Games
14,700 athletes will compete
46 sports will be played over 29 days
800,000 people are expected to use public transport to travel to the Games on the busiest day
Over 1 million will visit the stadium
80% of visitors will come by rail
2.6% of London’s roads will be used by the Olympic Route Network and less than 1 per cent of these will have temporary Games Lanes
50,000 meals will be served daily in the 24 hour catering village
1.8m tonnes of material has been delivered to the Olympic Park by rail
232 tonnes of potatoes, 330 tonnes of fruit and veg and 260,000 loaves of bread will be consumed in the Olympic Village during the Games
4 billion people around the world are expected to watch the London 2012 Games on TV
FTA Press Office
01892 552255
press.office@fta.co.uk
