Scotland’s growth depends on logistics

Its new policy document - Supporting economic growth in Scotland’s cities – underlines the contribution made by logistics, particularly to the economic growth of Scotland’s cities.

More than 360,000t of goods are moved by lorries in Scotland each day. “Without an efficient logistics sector, shop shelves would be bare, hospitals would run out of medication and cash machines would be empty,”​ said the FTA.

‘Shop shelves would be empty’​

The document covered: the importance of freight to Scotland’s city economies, out-of-hours delivery guidance, improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions and cycling safety issues. It aimed to build on what the FTA termed “the legacy of collaborative and innovative working practices which maintained efficient services in Glasgow”​ during last year’s Commonwealth Games.

FTA’s head of policy in Scotland, Chris MacRae: “Scotland’s cities are its economic power house and vital to its economic development. Efficient urban logistics are a key determinant of this, so facilitating the correct policies to enable this is essential.”​

‘Scotland’s cities are its economic power house’​

The Commonwealth Games taught the nation a lot in terms of managing freight delivery and servicing during with the aim of business-as-unusual approach to big event management, he added.

“So, it’s important to build upon best practice and experience to ensure urban freight deliveries and economic growth can succeed,”​ said MacRae, who led the association’s work with stakeholders on ensuring continuity of freight delivery and servicing during the Commonwealth Games.

For more information about the report, contact FTA here​.

Earlier this year the Scottish government urged the country’s main transport hubs to do more to promote Scottish food and drink. Launching Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink,  cabinet secretary for food Richard Lochhead said the inititative was “… a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our nation’s outstanding produce and transport hubs, which welcome visitors to Scotland, are the obvious place to showcase our local food and drink”​.​

The government estimated about 120M people passed through Scottish ports, stations and airports each year, offering 120M opportunities to showcase the nation’s food and drink to overseas visitors and Scottish consumers alike, he said.

Meanwhile, earlier today the long-awaited Airports Commission recommended Heathrow as its preferred choice for airport expansion​ in the south east of England.