...as hauliers drop legal challenge
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HAULIERS HAVE DROPPED their legal challenge against Olympics organisers for the effect trafic management orders will have on their business.
London legal irm Bindmans says the prospect of a long, drawnout battle against the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the potentially enormous costs involved led to irms such as Phelps Transport and Essex Flour & Grain withdrawing their claim. “It is clear that the ODA is willing to spend public money on defending its poor decision-making but nothing on mitigating the effects on local businesses whose interests were all but ignored in the process that led to the trafic management orders being made this May,” says partner John Halford.
Graham Phelps, boss of Hackney-based Phelps Transport, says he fears for the future of his irm. “I think it looked at our companies and thought none are a real inancial threat. We are suffering and it hasn’t started yet.” An ODA spokesman says: “We welcome the fact that the case has been dropped and we can focus on our operational responsibilities during Games time.
“We have been clear from the start that engagement with businesses has gone far beyond our statutory obligations. Businesses and residents were irst made aware of these changes last summer and a formal consultation period began in November 2011.
“Advice, assistance, and online tools remain available to businesses to help them plan for the Games. We will review and monitor our arrangements to ensure everyone can get to their destinations safely and on time this summer.” • See CM next week for a report into the effect of the trafic management orders on London hauliers.