The trade association for companies involved in deliveries to pubs and restaurants across the country is calling for councils across the country to embrace a technical solution to ensure safe and legal deliveries to the hospitality industry.
The Brewery Logistics Group, which focuses on issues related to the safe and efficient delivery of beer and related products, including health and safety considerations has written a White Paper aimed at helping Local Authorities understand problems faced by delivery drivers due to parking restrictions near to venues.
It says problems caused include having to park away from the delivery area, which means heavy barrels need to be manoeuvred an unnecessarily long distance from the vehicle to the venue, leading to unnecessary injuries for staff and danger to the public in the area. Furthermore, there is a danger refrigerated and frozen produce spends too long at the wrong temperature, breaking food hygiene rules.
This could lead to venues having to change the products they stock, or in some cases having to close down because safe deliveries become impossible. This is despite the restrictions often being introduced to an area after a pub or restaurant first opened.
The Brewery Logistics Group says that its members very often end up having to break the law by parking in restricted areas and risking a fine, simply because breaking that rule carries a smaller penalty than those related to health and safety or food hygiene.
In the White Paper, it calls for a new, joined-up approach with authorities where technology is used to create special dispensation for deliveries to take place in areas with parking restrictions. Drivers can book what is called a “virtual loading bay” and get permission to stop on kerbside that is usually restricted, at times agreeable to both the logistics company and the authority. The BLG says this will cause minimal disruption through, say, noise or traffic congestion.
The BLG adds that this helps Local Authorities by removing a conflict they have because of their joint requirements around kerbside and parking management, and an obligation to comply with health and safety legislation, for which non-compliance has serious criminal implications.
The technology already exists, having been developed by UK company Grid Smarter Cities, with kerbside bookings available in both physical and virtual bays in several London boroughs. In these cases, users book their slot using an app ensuring they can carry out their work without the fear of any Penalty Charge Notice.
It also says that using this technology will help fulfil air quality and congestion reduction goals through fewer non-compliant events or circling behaviours, see a reduction in the number of unfulfilled deliveries, reduced stress for delivery drivers, a reduction in crashes and better productivity.
The BLG is calling for kerbside management to become standard outside premises across the country, saying fining is not the answer, but by working together with authorities they can all support the vital UK hospitality industry.
(Picture – Grid Smarter Cities)
