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TFL helps firms avoid Olympics delivery chaos
Transport for London has set up 230 free workshops, including a number outside the capital, to help keep bar, restaurant and retailer deliveries running smoothly during the Olympics.
The sessions are aimed at haulage and wholesale firms, as well as their customers inside the transport “hot spots” due to be most affected by the games, to help them to plan deliveries in a way that avoids too much disruption.
Deliveries and collections make up 25% of central London traffic, with 281,000 freight journeys made into the capital each week.
Starting on 30 January and running until the end of April, 160 sessions will take place in London, while a further 70 will be held in UK cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Southampton, all of which have a significant concentration of businesses supplying London.
The initiative will also see a team of advisors visit small and medium-sized on- and off-trade businesses in areas of London expected to see the highest volume of congestion, such as Whitehall and Stratford town centre, to offer them further support.
London’s transport commissioner, Peter Hendy, said: “Ensuring that London’s supermarkets, restaurants and pubs remain stocked this summer will be critical to the overall success of the London 2012 Games.”
Urging these companies to prepare themselves for this summer, Hendy stressed: “Businesses based in transport ‘hot spot’ areas that make or receive freight deliveries need to start planning now to ensure they continue to operate effectively – and profitably – next summer.”
TfL’s workshops have been welcomed by the logistics industry, with Kate Gibbs at the Road Haulage Association saying: “We welcome this move by TfL to help haulage operators at such a critical time and we shall certainly be urging our members to take advantage of the practical advice and information available.
“An effective, cost effective and efficient transport network is crucial to the success of the Games; this initiative will ensure that operators are fully prepared.”
Businesses can apply for a place at one of these workshops via www.tfl.gov.uk/2012