2012 Olympics are not good news for everyone
April 19, 2011
UK haulage companies, already reeling from high fuel prices, face losing millions of pounds as a result of the Olympic Games in London in summer 2012.
One of the biggest concentrations of hauliers in the UK is in Thurrock, Kent, just 17 miles from the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.
“It is going to cost us an awful lot of money, possibly millions,” said Rob Hollyman, MD of a haulage firm which operates more than 100 lorries.
He said driver overtime, additional fuel costs, scheduling and late deliveries would hit hauliers’ bottom lines, as well as the temporary closure of some small local businesses during the games.
“It’s going to be grid-locked in the south-east – an absolute nightmare, as there will be cars, plus the additional commercial traffic going to Stratford. Delays have already been acute, because of the roadworks.
“I’d love to see a nearside lane reserved for commercial traffic. But the bit I find depressing is that it is not on people’s radar.”
Transport for London (TfL) has planned designated Olympic Route Networks to cater for Olympic traffic. These include parts of the A12 and A13, both key routes from Felixstowe to London and the south-east.
In addition, some traffic lanes will be closed to non-Olympic traffic before certain events, including a stretch of the A12.
TfL said it had been working with transport companies and offering suggestions as to how to ease congestion, for example through night deliveries.
“We are all quite sure it is going to be busy,” acknowledged a spokeswoman. “But we are doing a lot of work with freight businesses and haulage companies and making suggestions, such as delivering at night. There are a range of things on offer, but companies may just have to work differently during that period.”
But Hollyman laughed at the suggestion. “I love the ‘working at night’ initiative. We work 24/7 so it presents no major problem to us: the problem is that the delivery and collection points will not all work at night because of the nature of their business. It will probably descend into absolute chaos.”
Another haulier in Thurrock added: “TfL is living in a dream world. I haven’t heard from them – they are probably only talking to TNT and UPS.
“It’s very frustrating; it’s always us that gets squeezed, and it’s going to be horrendous.”
