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Freight-free transport plan disappoints Logistics UK

[ November 29, 2024   //   ]

Logistics UK says it is “deeply disappointed” at the lack of mention of freight in the Government’s Integrated National Transport Strategy announced by the recently departed Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh on 28 November.

Head of Cities and Infrastructure Policy Jonathan Walker commented: “The UK needs a genuinely integrated transport strategy that meets the needs of the travelling public while facilitating the efficient movement of freight, which is critical for driving growth throughout the economy and delivering the goods that consumers and businesses rely on every day.

“Logistics UK has identified the key transport corridors and critical routes for investment and is pressing the Treasury and the Department for Transport to use our research for formally identifying the UK’s Logistics Network and use this as the basis of a 30-year infrastructure strategy.

“Around 8% of the nation’s workforce work in logistics and the sector contributes £185 billon to the economy which means that, if appraisals are properly reformed, the result should be greater investment in the UK’s critical supply chain infrastructure. We will continue to work with the government to achieve a truly integrated network to keep people moving and keep Britain trading.”

Louise Haigh resigned as transport secretary today (29 November) over an incident in 2013 in which she was given a conditional discharge after misrepresenting a lost mobile phone incident to police.

In her short ministerial career, she also angered DP World by describing its P&O Ferries arm as a “rogue operator”, ahead of an investment conference at which the shipping and ports operator was due to announce a major investment in London Gateway.

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