London Councils' Transport & Environment
Committee
London Lorry Control Scheme Enforcement during 2012 Games
Report by:
Rob Kidd
Date:
9 June 2011
Contact
Officer:
Rob Kidd
Telephone:
020 7934 9907
Item no: 11
Job title:
Transport & Parking Manager
Email:
[email protected]
Summary
This report proposes a set of principles to govern the lorry control
enforcement regime for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.
Recommendations
Members are asked to agree the proposed enforcement principles as
outlined below.
London’s road network at Games-time
In just over a year’s time, London will host the 2012 Games. In order to cope with the
unprecedented demand for road space and transport infrastructure, a number of measures will
be introduced to enable the Games Family to reach venues on time, as well as enabling the rest
of the city to function.
Key among these measures are the Olympic and Paralympic Route Networks (ORN / PRN).
These comprise a network of roads linking all the competition and key non-competition venues.
They will help key participants, such as athletes and officials, to travel safely, securely and
efficiently between venues and their accommodation
The ORN, PRN and associated measures to improve traffic flow will be proportionate, temporary
and will only operate when and where they are needed. These measures include modified traffic
signals and restricted turns and temporary Games lanes. These lanes will run in one or both
directions, but will not occupy the entire road. The ORN forms 2.6 per cent of London’s roads.
Less than one per cent of London’s road network will have temporary Games lanes. The vast
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LLCS Enforcement during Olympic Games
Agenda Item 11, Page 1
majority of roads will remain open to everyday traffic. Shortly after the end of the Paralympic
Games, all roads will revert to their normal operation.
In addition the road network during Games time will also be subject to a variety of impacts from:
 Movement Management Areas
 Live Sites
 Local Area Traffic Management and Parking Plans
 Cultural events and the torch relay.
This combination of restrictions will require large scale changes to delivery timings for businesses
for the period of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Impact on the freight industry
London Councils anticipates that the 2012 Games will have a significant impact on businesses
that need to deliver in London. In order to facilitate efficient movement of Games traffic during the
day and evening, waiting and loadings restrictions will need to be extended in many locations on
the ORN/PRN, often restricting loading between 6.00am and midnight. Extended daytime and
evening loading restrictions will require deliveries to some Games venues and business premises
during the night. Tight restrictions on parking and loading resulting from the ORN / PRN are likely
to be compounded by increased demand for deliveries and (potentially) more daytime traffic
congestion.
London Lorry Control Scheme
TfL have approached London Councils about how changes to the London Lorry Control Scheme
can contribute towards the desire to maximise night time deliveries. Members will recall that the
LLCS prevents through HGV traffic from travelling through London at night time and weekends,
but does not prevent night time deliveries or collections. HGVs with business in London at night
or at weekends can obtain a permit for this from London Councils and their routes are regulated
so as to minimise use of residential roads. Vehicles under 18 tonnes are not affected by the
LLCS.
Options
The options for consideration with respect to the LLCS during games time are:
 Do nothing
 Increase the flexibility and simplicity for obtaining permits
 Increase the flexibility on enforcement
 Suspend the LLCS entirely during games time
While the LLCS does not impede night time deliveries, there will be some operators who are
unfamiliar with the scheme as they do not currently travel in London during the hours of operation
of the scheme. Doing nothing could be seen as a disincentive to those operators who might
otherwise increase or introduce night time deliveries. This option is not, therefore,
recommended.
London Councils is already committed to increasing the flexibility and simplicity for obtaining
permits for night time and weekend use through, for example, on line applications and removing
the need to physically display a permit on the vehicle. These changes are expected to be in
place by the end of 2011 and, combined with better information, will make it simpler for operators
to perform night time deliveries where these are wanted. Although the numbers of operators
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who do not currently operate night time or weekend deliveries in London is few, this option is
recommended.
Enforcement is currently undertaken by London Councils enforcement officers. These officers
identify where vehicles are travelling during the controlled hours without a permit or in
contravention of the conditions of the permit, especially routeing conditions. These techniques
could be applied more flexibly during the games time period, especially for operators who have
not previously undertaken deliveries at night. This option is recommended.
Suspending the scheme in its entirety would also make it easy for operators who have not
previously undertaken night or weekend deliveries in London, but given that the permitted
operators are delivery companies, rather than other types of business, and that it applies only to
vehicles over 18 tonnes, officers consider that the number of operators who have not previously
encountered the scheme will be limited. At the same time, suspending the scheme over the
period of the games – up to 100 days – will mean that the far larger number of operators who are
familiar with the scheme will increase their use of residential roads in London at night and
weekends, both for through traffic and for London based journeys. The very limited benefits
from this option would, therefore, be accompanied by increasingly large disbenefits for
Londoners not involved with the games. This option is not, therefore, recommended.
Principles for enforcement of Lorry Control Scheme at Games time
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London Councils will not suspend enforcement altogether, but will take a more flexible
approach than usual. Hauliers will still be expected to minimise the use of restricted
roads.
Vehicles with exemption permission AND legitimate business in London during the
Games would still receive (and be expected to respond to) an enquiry letter. However,
they would not receive a PCN unless they were deviating widely from the ERN without
reason, or were using unnecessary roads as a cut through. We would also consider
greater flexibility in responding to routing enquiries.
Hauliers with vehicles without exemption permission would still receive a PCN. However,
if they could demonstrate a legitimate need to be in London, enforcement action would
not continue and the PCN would be cancelled. Legitimate need is defined as a delivery to
an address in London, supported by relevant paperwork. Again, enforcement action
would still be taken if they were deviating from route.
Vehicles using London as a cut through, with no legitimate business in London, or that
are wildly off route would still be subject to enforcement action.
As much as possible, enforcement will be targeted away from the ORN / PRN during their
times of operation.
UPS, as the Official Logistics and Express Delivery Carrier for London 2012, would
receive a blanket exemption for their heavy goods vehicles operating in London.
Exemption may also be given for other freight operatives delivering to LOCOG sites.
LOCOG will hold a list of suppliers at Games time and this can be passed to London
Councils in advance. LOCOG will provide a list of approved vehicles to facilitate the
process. The arrangement will be closely monitored and may be withdrawn at any time
during the Games if it is not seen to be satisfactory.
This policy will apply from 25 June 2012 to 14 September 2012 inclusive. While the
Games do not start until July, there will be considerable logistics activity in the run-up and
inter-Games period.
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Next steps
Subject to Committee approval, the principles proposed above will need to be circulated among
the freight industry. We will do this by including a flyer in correspondence with hauliers (with
permissions and enquiry letters, for example). We will also publicise the changes on the London
Lorry Control Scheme website. ODA and TfL will also publicise the temporary changes to the
Road Freight industry.
Financial Implications for London Councils
There are no financial implications arising from this report.
Legal Implications for London Councils
There are no legal implications arising from this report.
Equalities Implications for London Councils
There are no equalities implications arising from this report.
Appendices
None.
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