Freight Best Practice
Issue: Spring 2009
The cancellation of this year's Commercial Vehicle Show was of course a great disappointment. I am pleased to say the Multimodal Show at the NEC has fared better. Last year marked an exciting new era for Freight Best Practice as the focus was expanded to provide more information on the use of inland waterways, coastal shipping and rail.
By Peter Binham
To help inform programme developments in this area we undertook wide-ranging research to identify how best the programme might support modal shift. A big thanks to all of you who took part in that exercise. One thing that hit us head on was the low awareness of some of the grants and funding available – in particular through the relaunched Freight Facilities Grant scheme.
Freight Facilities Grants, or FFGs, are offered for businesses to take freight off roads and move it by rail or water. In England, this is up to 50% of the capital costs of the scheme; in Scotland and Wales the funding levels differ. The value of grants awarded in England in recent years has averaged £ .2 million. What’s more is that the total fund available for the grants in England, for example, has recently increased, with £7 million earmarked for 2009-20 0, rising to £25 million by 2014.
As well as a general lack of awareness about the availability of funds, people also seem unclear about what is eligible for funding. Freight Facilities Grants are awarded to help offset the capital cost of providing rail and water freight handling facilities but not the cost of vehicles, for example, rolling stock, vessels and skeletal trucks. Examples of what is covered include wharves, sidings and signalling, loading and storage equipment.
We understand that modal shift isn’t viable for every operation, but we also know that there can be economic and environmental savings if you do decide to switch part or all of your operation. Throughout 2009 and beyond we will continue to add to our range of publications and tools that keep you up to date on all the options available to you and help you make an informed decision on modal change.
The Freight Best Practice team will be on hand with DfT officials on Stand 390 at Multimodal 2009 (28th – 30th April) to promote the opportunities for modal shift. Our entire range of support material will be available for you to take away, including our brand new publication Freight Facilities Grants – What Can I Get? We look forward to seeing you there.
● Peter Binham is spokesperson for the Freight Best Practice Programme and a consultant for the transport and engineering consultancy Faber Maunsell.
For further information, contact Peter via e-mail: peter.binham@fabermaunsell.com or visit: www.freightbestpractice.org.uk
Published: 02/03/2009
