London loading time extension postponed
Date: 30 August 2007
Plans to extend the amount of time that commercial vehicles such as those used by couriers can spend loading in the London borough of Westminster have been postponed.
RoadTransport.com reported that the new rules would be delayed until October, with the increased time still likely to apply only to larger CVs.
Under the scheme, trucks and vans of more than 3.5 tonnes will be permitted to carry out loading and unloading for 40 minutes.
Smaller vehicles, however, are likely to continue to be restricted to the current 20-minute standing limit. All commercial vehicles are liable for a parking ticket if they exceed these limits or are not continuously loading or unloading.
Recent figures showed that councils in the UK generated more than £1 billion through parking tickets and fines during 2005 - a considerable increase on the £638 million accrued in 1997.
Westminster Council announced in June of this year that it would be piloting the longer loading time scheme, dependent ongoing assessment of the impact on congestion.
Following lobbying by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and Transport for London, all the capital's councils and the Corporation of London have also agreed to increase loading times.
At present, haulage drivers in Westminster are generally limited to 20 minutes' loading on single or double yellow lines from 11am to 6.30pm. In some areas, however, further restrictions apply regarding on which days loading may take place.
The Department for Transport issued new guidance to local authorities earlier this month which urged them to only clamp vehicles that are consistently parked illegally - rather than for single offences. 
User Comments
No Comments