The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has told the Conservative Party Conference that any future government will need to back strong economic performance with investment in freight and logistics capacity.
At a meeting with the Conservative transport team last week, James Hookham, FTA deputy chief executive said: “The UK's future economic performance will depend heavily on consumer spending which will be met by imports of foreign made goods. These will enter the country through a relatively small number of major ports and airports. Future transport planning must provide for the impact this concentration of freight traffic will have on the road and rail routes serving these ports and airports.
“Freight and logistics needs to become a much bigger part of the vocabulary in future transport planning. Sure, passenger transport delivers voters but freight transport delivers lifestyles, choice and quality in goods and services. Its contribution cannot be ignored in future investment plans and policy discussions.”
