Regarding the announcement made by Transport for London (TfL) about the opening of a consultation on the future of the Congestion Charge – based on proposals to reduce the hours of operation to 0700-1800 during the week, 1200-1800 at the weekend and the charge remaining at the higher £15 rate – Natalie Chapman, Logistics UK’s Head of Policy – South, comments:

“Logistics UK welcomes the proposals to revert the operational hours of the Congestion Charge back to the original weekday timings in place before the Covid-19 pandemic. Logistics UK has long campaigned for flexibility surrounding delivery hours to encourage and enable businesses to carry out their deliveries at less congested times to reduce emissions, improve the safety of vulnerable road users and increase operational efficiency. Moving back to the original timings provides additional flexibility to retime deliveries and is supported by our members.

“However, Logistics UK opposes the proposal to retain the higher £15 charge and weekend charging, which simply amounts to an additional tax for logistics businesses who currently have little alternative but to use lorries and vans to keep London stocked with all the goods the population needs.”

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.