04.08.17
Business leaders urge Khan to appoint ‘freight commissioner’ for London
Industry leaders in the capital have urged the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to appoint a ‘freight commissioner’ to oversee the growing logistical demands of the capital.
In a statement from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Khan was told that the position should be established to recognise the growing needs of freight businesses and residents as the city continues to grow and prosper.
There is a dedicated transport commissioner in London, Mike Brown, who has held the post since September 2015, but no dedicated position for freight.
The LCCI state that the responsibilities of a freight commissioner would be leading a vision for enabling efficient logistics and establishing a world-class freight and logistics environment that would sit within the mayor’s Transport Strategy.
With London’s population set to grow from 8.6 million to 10 million by 2030, the business leaders also suggest that a freight commissioner would help ease strain on both public transport and service delivery.
“We are looking at a rapidly expanding population in London, which means not only do all these people need to be able to move about but they also require access to all the essential goods and services they want and need,” said Natalie Chapman, deputy chair of LCCI’s Transport Committee, and head of policy for London at the Freight Transport Association.
“People living in and visiting London expect to be able to buy their morning coffee, visit the shops and find everything they want in stock and also have a wide restaurant choice if they go out for an evening,” she added.
“This doesn’t just magically happen. Shops and restaurants have to be supplied and stocked and that means freight and logistics have to be properly co-ordinated.”
A spokesperson for the mayor told RTM: “The Mayor recognises that London’s continued success relies on the safe, reliable and sustainable delivery of goods and services.
"In his draft Transport Strategy he has set out a vision to make deliveries far more efficient with tailored solutions for different industries, including regional consolidation and distribution centres to reduce congestion.
"It’s vital that the whole of the supply chain is involved in this and Sadiq will be working closely with the industries, through TfL and his deputy mayors for transport and business, to make sure it works for all.”
Top Image: John Stillwell, PA Wire
Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an RTM columnist? If so, click here.