Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence


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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