The Wales freight strategy

European Transport Conference 2007 - Freight and logistics

Freight transport is more important to the way of life we take for granted than we realise. There are obvious functions, such as the transit of consumer goods to shops, supplies to hospitals and waste removal. Freight transport is an intrinsic part of the economy. However, freight requirements are often poorly considered in the field of transport planning, and are typically associated with negative impacts, particularly on the environment. Initiatives to consider freight in transport planning strategy have been tried, but these vary in scope and effectiveness, and often don’t represent ‘official’ policy.

This paper discusses development of the Wales Freight Strategy, one of the first national freight policies in the UK, and introduces the philosophy and policies of the strategy.

The Transport (Wales) Act 2006 is a watershed for transport in Wales, putting a ‘general transport duty’ on the National Assembly for Wales to promote and encourage; “safe, integrated, sustainable, efficient and economic transport facilities and services… (including) …those required for the transportation of freight”. The Welsh Assembly Government, with the assistance of Halcrow, the Wales Transport Research Centre and the Wales Freight Group, has developed the Wales Freight Strategy, as a ‘daughter’ document to the Wales Transport Strategy.

Key points covered by the paper include:

Developing the strategy – in particular taking into account how the Wales Freight Strategy has been specifically developed to fit with the outcomes and themes of the Wales Transport Strategy;

The role of the Wales Freight Group of informed stakeholders;

Policies and aims – some of the specific initiatives being suggested by the strategy, that address freight demand and supply, with consideration of modes operating singly and in inter/multi-modal situations, as well as the impacts of freight transport; and

Taking the strategy forward – including the partnerships that will be developed and actions to be undertaken, as set out in the ‘steps towards delivery’ of the strategy.

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