Today (Wednesday April 15th) Joanna Lane, TfGM Senior Stakeholder Engagement Officer, ‘We can announce that the statutory consultation on the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan will be delayed, due to the coronavirus pandemic.’

The consultation had been planned for this summer. However, like other areas of the country, current circumstances have limited our ability to progress the delivery of the Clean Air Plan to previous timescales. We remain committed to cleaning up Greater Manchester air and work continues, where possible, to progress the Clean Air Plan.

The government has contacted Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), which is co-ordinating the plan on behalf of the Greater Manchester local authorities, to say that it understands that the pandemic may impact on previously agreed timelines.

Institute of Couriers fellow, Tony Mannix, boss at Clipper did not take a holiday this Easter.

Tony reports,

Over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend we delivered over 48 million PPE items, including 23 million gloves, 8.6 million aprons, 4.5 million eye protectors, 1.9 million surgical masks, 753,000 FFP3 masks, 160,000 fit test solutions, and over 135,000 gowns.

Doing the right thing during the COVID-19 pandemic for express courier delivery

‘Stay at home, protect the NHS’.

IOC chief exec, Tracey Worth launched the Express courier COVID-19 best practice code for Easter weekend, a focus on actions during the COVID-19 crisis from express office through sortation to delivery at the door.

The code compliments the existing IOC code of values for best practice in the sector and can be found in the headline bubble space of the IOC web.

Alan Lewis, partner at Constantine Law, a sector expert for ‘Express Courier Final Mile’ has delivered ongoing briefings to the Institute of Couriers during COVID-19 and has been the keynote speaker at the Institute of Couriers sector round table events, including the January IOD event that had over one hundred thousand vans represented at that table.

End of play Thursday 9th April, Govt delivered a ‘Job retention scheme' update. Alan had his summaries to the IOC fellows by Easter Saturday. By Easter Sunday, April 11th both the update briefing and a whole picture review of employment, self employment and worker was in the fellows' Sunday ‘week ahead’ briefing, and that was during the Bank Holiday.

IOC chairman Carl Lomas, ‘The sector sincerely thanks Alan Lewis for bring the summary knowledge, at speed to the door of the final mile sector.’

Transport for London to temporarily postpone enforcement of new stricter rules for freight vehicles on the capital’s roads

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has asked Transport for London to delay the enforcement of new rules for London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and Direct Vision Standard (DVS) for at least four months after their introduction this October.

Although the new rules under both schemes will still legally come into force on 26 October, no charges will be payable or enforced for non-compliant vehicles under those new standards until the end of February 2021

Greater Manchester Highway Works on the Key Route Network from 09/04/2020

DPD has joined forces with 3DCrowd, the community of 3D printer owners who are using their machines to help alleviate the acute shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare workers.

Institute of Couriers fellow, Dwain McDonald, DPD's CEO commented,

This is a really smart example of a community working together and shows how our nationwide network can be used to support key services at this time. Our healthcare workers are doing a fantastic job - despite the exceedingly difficult situation they find themselves in. The supply of the much-needed face-shields is crucial, and we are delighted to be able to help.

Newbury Racecourse announce partnership with Swift Couriers and Age Concern (Newbury & District) to provide an extended Meals on Wheels service to the Most Vulnerable Elderly in West Berkshire.

Adrian Smith has sorted the detail and Swift Couriers have reviewed the routes.

Adrian Smith & the Swift Couriers team is making available technology and support to optimise delivery routes getting meals on wheels to the elderly and the vulnerable.

‘For those people in the transport sector continuing to work day in and day out, I want to reiterate my heartfelt thanks at the efforts and dedication you’re showing in helping with this nationwide effort.’