Railroad freight plan aims at regeneration
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JOINT PLANS for the development of key road/rail freight distribution and warehousing complexes in major cities were unveiled in London this week by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and British Rail. TIM COBB reports.
The plans, which are being worked upon in partnership with unnamed private developers, are designed to attract more long-distance freight to BR's expanding Speedlink air-braked network, and to improve the environment of inner cities.
They would also encourage new industry to locate itself where it can secure the best rail and road facilities.
Sites have been located in each of the six metropolitan counties and in Greater London, and agreement has been reached in principle for planning consent to be-given by the councils, although there are no dates yet for starting work on any of the centres.
The plans arose from an AMA study group report produced two years ago, which caused some dissent in the road haulage industry at the time. The study group felt that local authorities should look towards future areas of transport, and working parties were organised to look at particular sites.
They had to be near a large population centre, to have a diversity of activity, good direct rail services, good access to primary road networks, and to have sufficient room for later expansion.
Eight sites located so far are owned by the BR Property Board, and are at Park Lane (Gateshead), Tinsley (Sheffield), Stourton (West Yorkshire), Speke (Liverpool), Bescot and Temple Mills (West Midlands), and Neasden and Beddington Lane (Greater London). There are further plans for a site in North-East London.
Other possible centres for future development are: Bristol, Thamesdown (Swindon), Southampton/Eastleigh, Stoke-onTrent, Plymouth, Cambridge, Peterborough, Milton Keynes, South Glamorgan, Derby/Nottingham, Edinburgh, and Strathclyde Region. Further studies on these sites will involve the Association of County Councils and the Association of District Councils.
The complexes will include modern warehousing and transhipment facilities with Customs clearance where rail services to Europe are involved. Additional services such as banking and commercial and office development around the sites would form part of the larger projects.
BR Freight director Henry Sanderson said this week: "We have to take a long-term view of the long-term needs of transport. Once the land has been taken, it is not available for generations to come."