Tunbridge Wells, UK: The Freight Transport Association warns that any reintroduction of charging schemes in London will have a drag on recovery.
The association was disappointed by Transport For London’s decision to reintroduce all London road charging schemes with immediate effect.
Natalie Chapman, head of urban policy, FTA, said: “Cash-hit operators that have not been able to work for the past eight weeks are themselves working hard to recover their own business finances but having to accommodate additional road charges will penalise that growth significantly.
“The suspension of road charging schemes was extremely welcome in helping logistics operators focus on dealing with the Covid-19 crisis and protected many of their livelihoods when the shutdown posed a threat to their future solvency as there was no work available for them to do.
“To reintroduce road charging without any notice smacks of opportunism on the part of TfL and threatens the green shoots of recovery across London’s economy, while also jeopardising many logistics businesses as they look to work their way out of the crisis and rebalance their books.”
Transport for London is also proposing to increase the daily congestion charge to £15 and extend the hours of operation to 7am-10pm, seven days a week from 22 June.
“The proposed changes to the London congestion charge have completely ignored the needs of London’s businesses – how are shops to be supplied, restaurants and cafes to be stocked and the rest of the capital’s economy to obtain the products it needs when those charged with delivering these needs are to be punitively taxed at a time when their own industry is in recovery?
“Logistics, like the rest of London, is far from back to “business as usual”, and the capital’s supply chain should be exempt from these charges,” Chapman said.
“The government payment of £1.6bn to TfL was intended to help the organisation in its own recovery processes, and this should be used to encourage London residents to walk or cycle, creating increased cycling and walking access on roads and, where possible, move people safely back onto public transport, to discourage use of private cars. Logistics operators have been forgotten in this bailout and are being expected to stage their own financial recovery while facing punitive charges at a time when many have been unable to work for the past eight weeks.
The association believes enforcement operations should continue to be suspended in the short to medium term, bearing in mind the short notice given to the industry. “Logistics is a flexible, agile industry and we are certain that in the long-term, businesses will be able to adapt as road charging is reintroduced. But to reimpose punitive enforcement restrictions with immediate effect will hinder the sector’s ability to continue to support the capital in keeping people fed and watered and providing the items which the entire city needs to get back on its feet. We are urging TfL to reconsider its decision as a matter of urgency – without this, London’s recovery could grind to a halt as logistics businesses unable to afford to work,” she said.
