East London hauliers say livelihood is in ‘jeopardy’
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By Chris Tindall
HAULiERS iN east London say their livelihoods are in jeopardy because Olympics organisers are not compensating them for closing junctions and essential routes during the Games.
A 45-strong group including haulage firms, garages and retailers based within the A12 boundary, but outside of the Compulsory Purchase Zone, have instructed legal firm Bindmans to investigate the prospects of bringing a legal challenge against the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog).
Group leader Graham Phelps, of Hackney-based Phelps Transport, says the consequences of shutting off lanes and junctions could be serious.
“Job losses are likely to happen after the Olympics if our turnover is down by a substantial amount,” he says.
Another Hackney haulier, Essex Flour & Grain, says up to 100 jobs are at risk. “They have only given us one option: a convoluted approach through a residential area. We have up to 15 LGVs going out a day, and up to 20 coming in. Locog never disclosed its true intentions of what it was going to do. it is shutting the Lea interchange; that’s our lifeblood,” says transport manager Alex Spinks.
A Locog spokesman says: “We want to ensure the people who live and work in the vicinity of our venues are able to continue going about their business with minimum disruption. We are working closely with local authorities and Transport for London and talking to local businesses about their plans and requirements.”