PRESS RELEASE

JM/012/2015

27 January 2015

Rushing into delays - TFL cycle superhighways plans will still disrupt traffic in London

Responding to the TfL announcement made today regarding plans for cycle superhighways in London - the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has voiced its disappointment and concern.

FTA has stated that whilst it isn't opposed to cycle superhighways in principle, it is concerned over the speed that the plans are to be introduced saying: "these projects will be in place for decades and therefore, more time should be spent now getting all of the aspects understood and correct before work begins."

The Association added that the root of the problem is the speed with which the Mayor - Boris Johnson appears to be pushing the changes through. FTA raised the point that the environmental impact report and business case were only published today when versions of these should have been involved in the consultation, and that the final picture on loading restrictions is still not set.

FTA's Head of Urban Logistics Christopher Snelling commented that despite there being ‘positives' in the announcement today - overall the package of routes still raises cause for concern:
 

 

"The information published on delay times still does not reflect how industry and private motorists actually use these roads.  And yet the first road-works to build these superhighways will start in just a few weeks' time.  By this April we will see works underway on all the proposed routes, affecting some key routes into the centre of London.  It seems that the target pushing this is the aim to finish the routes by May 2016 - when the Mayor leaves office."

FTA has also said that there will still be considerable impact on traffic not just on the routes themselves, but also across London and even out to the M25, as TfL re-sequences red lights to make it harder for motor traffic to get on the routes.

Mr Snelling; added:

"Given the tight constraints of drivers' hours rules, this could result in significantly increased costs to the logistics industry.  And that means increased costs for the businesses and residents in London who rely on them." 

Snelling concluded:

"The improvements that have been announced today show how careful work can improve the situation to better reflect the balance of London's transport needs, and the revised plans issued are an improvement on those previously put out - traffic delays have been reduced somewhat and more loading capacity has been added than was planned before.  TfL has also committed today to work further with the freight industry to refine the loading facilities on the routes before they go live, which we welcome."

Notes to editors:

For further comment or to request and interview with Christopher Snelling, please contact the FTA press office by calling: 01892 552255 / 07818 450425 or email: press.office@fta.co.uk

FTA can trace its origins back to 1889 and is recognised as the voice of the freight and logistics industry, representing the transport interests of companies moving goods by road, rail, sea and air. FTA members operate over 220,000 goods vehicles - half the UK fleet - consign over 90 per cent of the freight moved by rail and 70 per cent of sea and air freight.