London Wider Waste Strategy - London - Greater London Authority

4.101. One other potential major initiative at present in London is a proposal at Old Oak
Sidings, at Willesden. This site has good rail and canal access and would make an ideal
portal for an inter-modal waste transfer station. The main incentive for this project is
the contract for the Cross London Rail Link within which the canal could be used for
bringing in aggregate and taking out spoil and other wastes. Also, central to this
project is a recycling station at the same location to recycle a range of materials,
especially aggregates. British Waterways indicated that this could take 45,000 lorry
movements off the roads over a seven year period. British Waterways are going to
commission a project in the near future to look at the potential for wastes and other
freight to be moved along a 26 mile section of this canal from nearby businesses.
4.102. British Waterways also noted the potential for the transport of dry cargos of cardboard
due to the high price, providing they can access the mills. It appears that whilst this
may be possible via the River Thames, downstream transport is difficult, particularly in
the winter. This is due to the seaworthiness of the canal boats on the river and hence a
new generation of barges may be required to further develop such opportunities.
4.103. The major limitation in increasing canal transport is due to the lack of wharf sites; this is
aggravated by the fact that many have been developed for canal-side housing and other
development. British Waterways have just released a Best Practice Guide on Planning
for Freight on Inland Waterways. However, no special protection is given to canals for
freight transport, and particularly wastes, and the encouragement of waste transport by
canal is not particularly encouraged within current planning policy and guidance.
4.104. British Waterways informed us that there was some opposition to moving waste (and
freight) by canal in London. This came from two main groups; house owners with
canal-side properties who were objecting to visual impact, odour and noise, and also
from boaters, especially the live-aboards, who were also concerned about disturbance
from wash. Whilst such objections are understandable, it is recommended that the
benefits of water-borne transport for London as a whole is likely to outweigh the
impacts on individuals.
Recommendation 5: It is recommended that Transport for London should take the
lead in promoting the transport of waste by water wherever feasible, and to
lobby Government to support the use of the river and canal network for this
purpose.
Recommendation 6: In order to facilitate the transport of waste by water, it is
recommended that suitable sites in London are reserved for such use in Waste
Local Plans.
4.105. British Waterways work closely with the Port of London Authority and the Government.
The Government are keen to promote water-borne freight transport, as is demonstrated
by the Freight Facility Grants. However, the grant does not apply for water-borne
freight transport if there is no alternative to water (or rail) transport.
Recommendation 7: It is recommended that the GLA supports British Waterways in
their efforts to get Government to amend the regulations relating to the
receipt of Freight Facility Grants such that it should apply to transport by
water (and by rail) even where there is no alternative.
4.106. British Waterways commented that compulsion for projects to consider waste transport
at the ’front-end’ would be very helpful for them.
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