Establishing a freight partnership

Summary

Strategic planning for city logistics in Preston was based on the experience of La Rochelle and other best practice examples.

Implementing sustainable mobility

Local authorities generally place less emphasis on the organisation of goods flow than on passenger services. However, goods deliveries must be optimised and managed in order to improve urban traffic flow and cut congestion. Experience within CIVITAS demonstrates that a global approach to urban freight and its integration into urban transport management is vital. Logistics stakeholders must be involved in improving supply chains, and the creation of a freight forum or freight quality partnership can help to achieve a clear overview and identify the best solutions.

The aim of the measure was therefore to improve freight management through the establishment of a freight quality partnership, leading to improved routes for drivers and better signage to help reroute vehicles away from the congested city centre.

Progress

Freight measures in Preston included a strategic plan for city logistics, based on the experience of La Rochelle and other best practice. An active freight quality partnership (forum) was established to identify and then steer the implementation of measures to improve the coordination of freight traffic in the area. The Lancashire Freight Strategy was drawn up with a specific annex on Preston, freight zones and preferred routes were defined and mapped, and better information was provided to freight operators on routing for freight vehicles into and around the city. A freight map was produced and made available in both printed and online versions.

Outcomes

• The freight quality partnership began to forge strong links between freight users and policy implementers within local government.
• The measure was closely linked to the Preston Clear Zone and to the outcomes of access control measures.
• Freight zones and routing were agreed with members of the freight quality partnership and a zone map was published.
• A freight strategy was drawn up, incorporating a strategic plan for city logistics and other CIVITAS measures.

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