Memorandum by the Essex Flour & Grain
Company (RH 29)
I would hope that you would remember that I
wrote to you and the Parliamentary Transport Sub Committee, some
years ago, concerning the problems of London Suppliers while attempting
to service London's needs. At the time you were kind enough to
write in reply that the Sub Committee had an extensive programme
and was unable to devote time to our problems. It would appear
that Road Haulage and Freight are now to be scrutinised by your
Sub Committee and I would be pleased to be included among those
who will give evidence to your Committee.
Among the evidence, which I would ask, you to
consider are:
(1) The roads were paid for by Residential
& Commercial Properties to improve local services, Butcher,
Baker, Grocer, Coalman etc. and have been usurped by the motor
car eg. residential and other parking and buses have priority
over commercial deliveries and commercial premises have no rights
of access.
(2) The Secretary of State DETR has failed,
like his predecessors, to identify the importance of commercial
deliveries, and like them, continue to ignore earlier D.O.T. reports
that found 45 per cent of London's deliveries were illegal and
this per cent has increased year by year to the detriment of commerce
in lost efficiency, time, money and increased pollution.
(3) The Freight Transport association did
extensive work, checking the provision of unloading bays on the
original 315 miles of Red Route and samples are included, Oscar
Faber TPA letter to Mr G John FTA & FTA letters 16 June 1994
and 22 April 1994.
— A similar exercise to update original
work and cover rest of Red Route is urgently required.
— A Quality Assurance feedback system
is also urgently required rather than the three years and numerous
tickets detailed in 4(c) Camden (St Giles High Street).
(4) I attach 3 examples of Parking Penalties
(a) Locals Authorities give no more thought to
deliveries at their own premises than any other. See Adjudication
appeal LM03917643 attached.
(b) Record breaking Tickets R00072966 and 74.
One vehicle received these two tickets in three minutes. The first
because single yellow line had been changed to double Red and
second because driver was 7 minutes early for Loading Bay. The
fact that nine tickets were issued in three minutes suggest either
the motivation was a bonus which we believe is illegal or a pathological
hatred of Commercial vehicles which should bar their employment
as Wardens. In either case it confirms previous DOT studies.
(c) Our vehicles are on the road from 06.10 hours
until lunchtime. St Giles High Street has always banned deliveries
from 08.30 hours until 18.00 hours unnecessarily in our opinion,
although not in writing, we believe we have convinced Camden that
a Loading Bay can and should have been provided and we are still
trying to get relaxed time limits. London Local Authorities are
demanding Euro 3 Pollution limits on delivery vehicles while refusing
use of Loading bays between 08.30 hours and 10.00 hours, with
no where to park and wait without being penalised, the suggestion
being they should drive aimlessly around the City blocks wasting
time, is confirmed by Parking Adjudication Service.
(5) Lastly I include correspondence on Traffic
management and Parking Guidance, in my attempts to get a Quality
Assured Transport Policy. This would require the priority of commercial
Traffic and Unloading to be stated and Ombudsman for the allocation
of adequate unloading bays in the interests of Health & Safety
and delivery efficiency.
CONCLUSION
If you have read the attached evidence I think
you will agree the DTI assessment of Mafioso Style was fair. What
is the point of hauling goods around the country if they cannot
be distributed? The hardest hit are the small Distribution companies,
Cafes and Retailers who carry the burden of these huge added costs
and the demise of Inner City Shopping Centres is inevitable and
made more certain by latest reallocation of Road Space. As attached.
Mr H R Spinks
February 2000
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