Present:
Val Shawcross – HATF (Chair)
Mark Frost – HATF (Independent Technical Advisor)
Timothy Wells – Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) (Surface Access Travel and Policy Lead) Tim Leech – HAL (Head of Strategy and Sponsorship, Surface Access)
Simran Kullar – HAL (Travel Demand Manager)
James Golding – HAL (Head of Cargo)
Peter Fisher – National Highways
Nigel Wicking – AOC (Chief Executive)
Kris Beuret – Representative for local communities
Wayne King – Unite (Regional Secretary)
Anthony Smith – Transport Focus (Chief Executive)
Adam Tyndall – BusinessLDN (Programme Director)
Shamal Ratnayaka – Transport for London (Aviation Strategy Lead)
Joanna Grew – Network Rail (Industry Programme Director [Heathrow & TVA]
Alan Tilly – London Borough of Hillingdon (Transport and Aviation Team Manager)
Paul Millin – Heathrow Strategic Planning Group (HSPG) (Chair, Transport Sub Group) David Stroud – British International Freight Association (Policy & Compliance Advisor)
Matt Furniss – Transport for the South East (Board Member)
Baroness Liz Sugg – Chair CISHA (Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport) Matthew Lodge – Department for Transport (Director, Rail Infrastructure South, Rail Infrastructure Group)
Sean Delaney – Department for Transport (Principal Sponsor, Wessex Route)
Apologies:
Sophie Chapman – HAL (Surface Access Director)
Christian Wolmar – London Cycling Campaign (Trustee)
1. Welcome and Introductions
The Chair welcomed everyone to the first Board meeting of 2023.
Following the publishing of the new Surface Access Strategy (SAS) from Heathrow, the focus for this year’s programme will be on reviewing progress towards achieving objectives and targets as set out in the SAS.
2. HAL Update
Tim Leech (TL) presented the HAL update, see slides for Surface Access dashboard. Key points discussed:
- Outlined progress of various strategies committed to in the SAS including Colleague car parking, Landside Zero emission strategy, Taxi and Private hire.
- Update on capital projects, ULEZ progress and Sustainable Travel Zone.
- Mode Share: 43% for December was achieved, despite strikes anddisruption, but includes a whole month of Elizabeth line through running. HAL hope public mode share % will grow for 2023The Chair and Anthony Smith (AS) pointed out that the dashboard slide needs to be more visually accessible and could be split over two slides. TL – this will be address ahead of the next meeting.The Chair asked for a reminder of what the mode share targets are. TL: 45% passenger public transport and 57% colleague single vehicle occupancy usage, as set out in the surface access strategyAnthony Smith (AS): can you provide a comparison with other global / European airports? TL: will take away and come back to you
3. Freight Focus
James Golding (JG) provided an update on cargo and freight, see slides for further details. Key points included:
- Performance: 1.4m tonnes of cargo in 2022 compared to 1.7million tonnes in a normal year pre-Covid (currently 16% down). Key cargo markets follow passenger markets (as most cargo located within hold of passenger aircraft) e.g. JFK, Middle East, Los Angeles. Noted reduction in China for 2022, due to Covid lockdowns
- Cargo Strategy: took account of feedback from cargo community to set out what will happen over next couple of regulatory periods based on 4 pillars: policy changes, transformation of the cargo estate, digitalisation, community engagement.
Shamal Ratnayaka (SR): where does sustainability feature in the strategy if not a named pillar? JG: it runs through all 4 pillars
Kris Beuret (KB): How will you tackle nuisance lorry parking and drivers? JG: included within the strategy and will take learning from private hire vehicle
- Transformation of the cargo estate: additional capacity, replacing expired assets, better security
- Truck parking facility: will improve flow, provide driver welfare facilities and reduce likelihood of trucks waiting in local communities. Slot booking system will be introduced to ensure better flow, so drivers will wait less and know arrival time. Initial site identified and feasibility underway.The Chair asked if freight vehicles using Heathrow cargo will be required to be part of FORS (FORS Homepage – FORS – Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (fors- online.org.uk)) due to safety for cyclists and environmental protection. JG will look into this.The Chair asked if proposed cycling schemes to improve highways within HAL estate are aligned with the cargo redevelopment. JG: in regular talks with Surface Access teams to ensure plans are aligned.KB: how can you reduce vehicle movement, especially empty running. JG: this is one of the areas we are working with government on to enable milk runs (multi pickups/drop offs). This is currently limited due to security aspects with cargo at the airport. The Chair confirmed HATF would support cargo consolidation.
4. Heathrow Rail Enhancement
The Chair summarised the positive and collaborative discussion held at the November HATF Wider Forum which focussed on rail enhancements.
Matthew Lodge (ML) provided DfT point of view on the proposed Heathrow rail enhancements and gave a general update:
- Decline in rail due to Covid, industrial actions and infrastructure disruptions – the government are worried about this and activities have focussed on increasing rail uptake
- Great Western – review into events that happened on day of Queen’s funeral, and the length of time it took to respond. General response times to disruptive events are improving
- Highlighted success of Elizabeth Line and improved access to airport. On track for the final stage to be implemented in May 2023
- RNEP planned to be published in Spring 2023. A flat budget was announced in the Autumn Statement although inflation devalues this.
- Old Oak Common: lots of work ongoing on how to build OOC whilst mitigating impacts of construction on timetables
Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH) and Southern Access to Heathrow (SAtH):
- DfT believe Western Rail Link to Heathrow is still heavily linked to Expansion.
- Not sure what Ministers views are on Southern Access to Heathrow
- DfT can see the benefits of SAtH but even if privately funded there are hurdles (guarantees etc).
Paul Millin (PM (HSPG)) – there is a common consensus of stakeholder support for SAtH. How can HSPG and HATF help bring this forward, as there has been no momentum from government? ML: there needs to be consensus behind one scheme. If it is to be privately funded, the DfT need to be careful that they do not promote, but just facilitate. When the time is right, the relevant groups could present information to ministers
PM: HSPG are doing work on this and keen to present to DfT/ ministers. The Chair stated there would be a HATF Special Interest Group set up to ensure the project is pushed forward.
The Chair stated western rail will not just be linked to Heathrow expansion, but also regeneration to local areas along the route. ML challenged if the benefits remain as strong now that there is Elizabeth Line and a developing interchange at OOC. MF. highlighted that local stakeholders (e.g. Slough/Maidenhead) would not see the journey time benefits if interchanging at OOC. TL noted that the route would also enhance resilience for both airport travellers and those going into Paddington if there were problems with GWR . JG confirmed there would be more work to do on benefits and the business case of WRLtH.
5. Ultra Low Emission Zone Expansion
TL set out the impact of ULEZ on Heathrow and potential mitigation measures for colleagues. See slides for further details and highlights below:
- Based on data, there is 35% non-compliance for Team Heathrow colleagues with a 50/50 split for those living in and not living in ULEZ.
- TL set out list of potential mitigations, to support colleagues and protect the operation including:
- Enhanced Sustainable Travel Zone
- Park and ride – to prevent colleagues parking in local roads.Potential to use existing P&R sites or find land to create a newone.
- Scrappage scheme – TfL will provide one, but very few colleagueswill be eligible for the TfL scheme
- Green car / ULEZ compliant scheme – could have tax limit issues, and EV cars are often more expensive
- Liftshare – increased awareness for colleagues
- Terminal Drop off Charge (TDOC) – continue to exemptcolleagues from the £5 charge
- TfL public transport improvements – work with TfL to improvelinks to and from airport
- Improved colleague communications
SR : happy to work with HAL to provide better public transport and will feedback the point that the August deadline is very short.
PM: Supports ULEZ objectives but the implementation date needs reconsidering. It will be impossible to change the travel habits of 35% employees within 7 months. The Chair agreed with PM, supports the scheme but there is not enough time to implement – this was stated in the HATF response during the ULEZ consultation in 2022
Wayne King (WK): Non-compliance could be higher than 35%. Would like to set up meetings with colleagues to gain a greater understanding. Providing free travel for colleagues on public transport would really help.
6. HATF Workplan 2023
The HATF workplan for 2023 was shared in advanced and set out in the slides.
The Chair: Closure of Active Travel Special Interest Group as active travel projects and LCWIP have started or reached a good stage to continue. Monitoring of this work would continue via the Board.
Future SIGs will focus on bus improvements and rail enhancements
7. AOB
• No comments received on HATF response to CAA strategic review so it will be finalised and submitted.