FTA and Bunkercard welcome LLCS decision 12 August 2014

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) and Bunkercard have welcomed the decision of London Council's Transport and Environment Committee to scrap its plans for an update to the London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS).

The proposal involved new rules for all heavy goods vehicles entering the capital, requiring additional sideguards and class V and VI mirrors installed. However, this decision has now been reversed, with the committee deciding to cancel the plans.

"This is great news for HGV operators," states Paul Davies of Bunkercard.

"While we help our customers reduce their diesel bills, we are aware, through discussions with them, that the constant drip of additional red tape adds to their overall operating costs," he adds.

Davies also notes that similar measures are already set to come into force under the Mayor of London's recently announced rollout of his new Safer Lorry Scheme, originally launched at the end of January2014.

London Mayor Boris Johnson stated at the time that Transport for London will look at new ways to improve blind spot coverage for larger vehicles taking to the capital's roads.

"We have always believed that this was the wrong approach, but to have two regulatory regimes in London trying to control the same thing would have been a nonsensical example of unnecessary red tape," comments FTA head of urban logistics and regional policy Christopher Snelling.

Snelling also believes that the committee should be focusing on other opportunities for safety and efficiency in the capital.

He cites measures such as the rollout of more out-of-hours deliveries across London, which he says could easily be implemented as part of LLCS, and reviewing outdated legislation that may be holding back transport from making significant improvements.

Author
Brian Tinham

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