FTA: Govt needs to spell out inland freight connections policy
Date: 23 July 2007
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is hoping that the government will announce its plan for funding enhancement to open access transport infrastructure in the autumn, and that it will benefit freight haulage companies.
Last week the Department for Transport (DfT) published its Interim Ports Policy Review, but held back from revealing its policy on inland connections, which the FTA describes as "the most important issue facing the development of Britain's ports".
The government is delaying an announcement until it makes a statement responding to the Eddington Report, which looks at Britain's transport needs.
"Hopefully it is a good sign that the government has held back its decisions on inland connections, to coordinate with its response to Eddington," said FTA global supply chain policy head, Christopher Snelling.
"The Eddington Report was clear about the significance of international gateways to the future of the UK economy, and so we hope this will inform DfT's thinking in that area."
He warned that, unless the government set out a clear framework for the funding of inland infrastructure, logistics companies could see more surcharge being introduced at ports, such as that in place in Felixstowe.
"This would add costs to the supply chain into the UK," he said, suggesting that freight haulage firms would suffer.
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