Freight Strategy

2.2 The Regional Context

2.21   The  Regional Context for Road & Rail

The amount of freight lifted on a region by region basis is given in Table 2.5.  A comparison based on  2004 figures was not readily available.  However, this 2003 data does provide a useful indication of comparative regional freight transport activities.  The South West was comparable with the West Midlands and had more freight activity than Greater London, the North East and Wales.

   

The modal split for freight movements by origin between road and rail is shown in Table 2.6.  Nationally, rail had a 12% market share in terms of total inland freight moved in 2003, with 20 billion tonne kilometres. Road had an 88% modal share, with 148 billion tonne kilometres. The South West region compared favourably with other UK regions, with an 18% market share for rail reflecting the greater distances to be travelled, as well as its tradition aggregate and mineral 'bulk freight' industries.

According to the South West of England RDA report The State of the South West, 174 million tonnes of freight were carried by road in the region in 2003 (this total excludes goods originating outside Great Britain). 63% of this volume was movement of goods between locations in the South West. In the 10 years up to 2003, road freight originating in the South West rose by 16% compared with 10% nationally.

Rail freight flows within the region are limited and are principally concerned with aggregates, coal, cars and china clay. There is very little movement of inter modal container traffic by rail into the region. Main areas of rail freight activity are aggregates traffic from the Mendips, via Westbury, principally to London and the South East, coal for power generation through Bristol port to power stations at Didcot and in the Midlands, and automotive traffic through Portbury (Bristol).

Principal rail freight flows in Cornwall are china clay operations to Fowey and other destinations.

2.2.2    Regional Context -  Waterborne and Air Freight

Commercial ports in the South West handled over 19 million tonnes of freight in 2003. This represents 5% of the U.K. ports seaborne freight.  This is relatively low in relation to the length of the South West region’s coastline.    This is an indicator of how freight transport decisions are primarily driven by the location of key bulk distributors and their related markets rather than the supply of ports.        

South West airports carried 5,900 tonnes of freight in 2003. This represents 0.3% of air freight in the UK.

2.2.3    The Regional Spatial Strategy

The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) sets the policy context for planning and development in the South West to 2026.  The RSS provides a spatial context for Local Development Frameworks, providing guidance on the scale and location of future development. The RSS also guides investment in transport and provides a framework for the preparation of Local Transport Plans.  As part of its regional approach to transport, the RSS sets out the regional approach to freight transport.  The RSS also sets out the regional approach to ports (and airports).

Road

A key element of work that has been undertaken at the Regional level is the freight hierarchy of routes.  This work reflects the large volumes of freight traffic that are generated through the principal industries of mineral extraction and agriculture in the region. The RSS states that:

“The Freight Map hierarchy of routes has been defined for the purpose of identifying priorities for maintenance investment and for working with freight operators to ensure freight utilises those roads fit for purpose”.

The Map identified three tiers of routes:

National   - those used for longer distance freight routes from other regions.

Regional  - those used for intra-regional travel.

County     - those used within the County to provide local access to freight facilities.

The RSS also identifies the need to review the provision of rest areas for lorry drivers in view of the ‘Working Time Directive’.  It highlights the need for these services to be allocated and safeguarded where appropriate.

Rail

In terms of interchange facilities, Plymouth and Cornwall are identified in the draft RSS and within this, Policy TR13 supports the need to identify possible sites for safeguarding land for rail freight terminals.

Ports

The draft RSS recognises the opportunities to develop freight markets through the Region’s ports.  Specifically, it mentions china clay traffic from Par and the bunkering and cruise ship opportunities at Falmouth.  This specific mention of the importance of the Region’s smaller ports is especially pertinent for Cornwall.  The draft RSS states;

“The coast, and in particular the region’s smaller ports, offer a potential resource for supporting some of the more peripheral parts of the region.  It is therefore important to protect and develop opportunities for appropriate port development to facilitate more sustainable movement of goods and materials."

This approach supports the County Council’s response to the European Commission’s ‘Motorways of the Sea’ strategy document, where the ’complementary potential’ of Plymouth, Falmouth, Teignmouth, Penzance, Fowey/Par, and other smaller ports is highlighted. 

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