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1st November

Roger.resized The recent publication of the govt’s transport infrastructure plan will not cause transport and logistics operators to jump with joy and renewed hope, but at least it is a plan, and the first ever produced by a UK government. Given the current state of the economy, it would have been unrealistic to expect increased levels of investment in our under- maintained roads, underused railway system, and under capacity ports. One of the objectives of the transport infrastructure programme is to help develop a competitive economy, but there is little in the programme to generate any feeling of optimism that new and increased measures are about to be undertaken. There is to be investment in removing bottlenecks (A11, M1, M4/5, Midlands metro, Tyne and Wear metro, and the construction of the Mersey gateway) – but weren’t they in the programme already?

There is to £14billion of funding to Network Rail to support maintenance and investment including improvements to the East coast mainline; Crossrail is to go ahead; more funding for Transport for London to upgrade the Underground; Network Rail is to deliver 21% efficiency savings by 2014, and the Highway Agency is to come under greater scrutiny to ensure we get greater value for money. The coalition government is committed also to produce an infrastructure for green growth, low carbon and competitive transport economy. To meet that objective we can expect the introduction of lorry road user charging; incentives to encourage an increase in purchases of electric and plug-in hybrid cars, and a new Local Sustainable Transport Fund. What’s that all about?

Well, it is designed to encourage local schemes to change behaviour and encourage more sustainable travel, especially for sort journeys.

Who is responsible for the plan and its programme? In the summer, the Chancellor of the Exchequer established Infrastructure UK (IUK), as part of HM Treasury. It has an advisory council chaired by Paul Skinner (formerly chairman of Rio Tinto), and its job is to provide guidance on the strategic direction and work priorities of IUK. However, the Economic Affairs committee of the cabinet (chaired by the Chancellor), will have the role of coordinating infrastructure planning, prioritisation and policy development across government.

We are on the eve of IMHX – the largest materials handling show in UK. I hope to see many UKWA members there. However, the largest material handling show in Europe is CMATT, and due to take place in 2011 between 2–6 May 2011 in Hannover. CMATT have chosen UKWA as its lead trade association partner in UK and Warehouse as its lead trade publication partner. Apart from the satisfaction of being recognised as a significant element of the logistics industry in UK, it provides UKWA the opportunity to assist to UKWA member companies to exhibit in this increasingly International show. If there is sufficient support , UKWA is prepared to take a pavilion (on a similar basis to Multimodal), which will allow member companies a cost effective entry to the event. A separate and more detailed notice will be sent shortly, but I would be glad to hear of any initial interest from you.

Roger Williams

CEO - UKWA