News Articles Archive - Page 13 of 140 - Cross River Partnership

28th September marks World Maritime Day, which focuses on the importance of transporting via water safely, maritime security and safeguarding the marine environment. This year’s theme is “MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on” (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships), which represents the organisation’s 50-year long standing efforts to protect the environment from the impact of shipping pollution from operational and accidental causes. Find out more here.

CRP has submitted nominations across four categories for the National Maritime Awards, which celebrates innovative and outstanding achievements of small to medium enterprises across the UK maritime sector. Our nomination follows the successful four-week London Light River Freight Trial, delivering London’s first daily, multi-supplier, river freight trial that also included return deliveries.

This trial championed the decarbonisation of London’s logistics sector, promoting river freight as a sustainable logistical solution in the transition towards net-zero emissions as well as reinventing last-mile delivery models. The success of this trial included collaborative working with the following key partners: Grid Smarter Cities, Lyreco UK & Ireland, Pedal Me, Port of London Authority (PLA), Speedy Services and Thames Clippers Logistics and formed part of the Defra-funded Clean Air Logistics for London (CALL) project.

9th August 2023 was International Coworking Day.

It’s held on that date every year as the anniversary of software engineer Brad Neuberg publishing an article that introduced the coworking concept to the world, in 2005.

The article’s message resonates to this day: “If we work at a traditional 9 to 5 company job, we get community and structure, but lose freedom and the ability to control our own lives. If we work for ourselves at home, we gain independence but suffer loneliness and bad habits from not being surrounded by a work community.”

CRP and its partners are working hard to find the best of all worlds for communities, businesses, High Streets, Town Centres. We are all coworking on a daily basis as we collaborate across professional disciplines, sectors and geographies to deliver solutions to London’s challenges. Let’s keep going so that every day is a Coworking Day!

Starting my journey with CRP as a paid Intern during last week of July was incredibly exciting! During this time, I had the opportunity to meet the team members both as a group and one-on-one. They are all truly exceptional individuals with rich and significant backgrounds in sustainability, and they are actively engaged in various exciting project efforts.

Upon my initial day, I had the honour of participating in an Away Day. During this event, we engaged in an afternoon focused on planning and strategy, interspersed with a lunch session. I was also fortunate to mark the achievement of my graduation by celebrating with my family during that same week, before re-joining the team a week later.

Subsequently, my engagement has revolved around the Waterloo Freight Hub initiative. Furthermore, I am starting to delve into freight hub modelling efforts including various scenarios. I will be working on the creation of 3D models, utilizing tools like Revit, AutoCAD, and SketchUp and Adobe systems giving it a final finish.

My background is within a technical knowledge of current UK building and CDM regulations, preparation of technical drawings, working knowledge and experience of RIBA work stages. I have recently become an alumni at the University of West London, following the completion of my Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Architectural Design Technology in July 2023.

The significant advantage of becoming a part of CRP is to actively participate in multiple workstreams designed to build a better future for London.

Get in touch with Alejandra Bolanos Martinez: alejandrabolanosuk@gmail.com

CRP’s Communications Project Manager Rachael Aldridge is moving on to pastures anew, after four years with CRP. We are very sad that she is leaving us, but we wish her all the very best for an exciting future!

Rachael’s achievements at CRP are too numerous to mention, but some of her highlights have included: launching CRP into social media, getting CRP published in new trade press publications, chairing monthly CRP Conversations webinars, and much much more.

Rachael’s last day with CRP will be 12th September, with her leaving drinks in central London on 7th September – do email rachaelaldridge@crossriverpartnership.org if you would like to join!

Rachael will be joining Central District Alliance BID as their Communications and Marketing Manager, so you’ll be able to reach her there! Good luck Rachael!

On 16th August, we launched the ‘Thames Freight Infrastructure: Design Guidelines for Piers’ report with Beckett Rankine, Port of London Authority (PLA) and Transport for London (TfL).

This report provides guidance on the infrastructure required for light freight services on the tidal River Thames. Aimed at pier owners and e-cargo bike operators, this report is designed to ensure safe and efficient transfer of light freight between river and shore.

Whilst the document had been written based on the current market, the principles contained within can be carried forward into the future. E-cargo bikes have been tested at a number of piers across London and the findings recorded to inform this guidance.

Click here to read ‘Thames Freight Infrastructure: Design Guidelines for Piers’.

Please read the full PLA press release here.

The CRP Team would like to wish all of the CRP Partners a very happy Summer Season!

We have all achieved so much together over recent months – another River Freight Trial, a Walking Freight Trial, a Micro Hub, and Rail Freight reports. All of these things will make important contributions to cleaning up London’s air and reducing congestion on our streets.

Enjoy the Summer Season! We look forward to continuing to work with you into the Autumn and beyond. Thank you for everybody’s ongoing commitment and support.

Susannah Wilks, Director of CRP – susannahwilks@crossriverpartnership.org

I joined CRP at the end of June and have really enjoyed my first month! I’ve spent my time so far getting to know other members of the team, and familiarising myself with past and current projects. CRP is a great working environment – everyone has been very welcoming and supportive. I’ve also been enjoying the fantastic views of London from the office!

My first week included the CRP Summer Event at Somerset House, which was a great opportunity to meet collaborators and partners. Since then I’ve been working on Monitoring and Data Analysis, and helping wrap up some of pieces of work for CALL. I’m looking forward to working on delivery of the cargo bike and walking freight workstream as part of SGL, as well as supporting on data monitoring and evaluation and comms across all workstreams.

Previously I was working at the University of Westminster on a research project looking at working conditions and scaling up in London’s cargo bike sector. I also studied for an MSc at UCL in Transport and City Planning, and wrote a dissertation looking at the governance, monitoring, and evaluation of London’s e-scooter trial. I’m excited to be working on some similar topic areas at CRP, but with a greater focus on on-the-ground delivery.

CRP Project Officer Charlie Couve – charliecouve@crossriverpartnership.org

Joining CRP in the last week of June was very exciting to say the least! I was able to meet the team, collectively and individually, who are all amazing and have great enriching experiences within sustainability and are currently working across several exiting project streams.

My first day entailed witnessing the launch of the first urban e-walker, as part of the Defra-funded CALL programme in Fitzrovia and networking with stakeholders. Since then, I have also been working on Monitoring and Data Analysis, and supporting other pieces of work for our CALL programme. Additionally, I will be working on Click and Collect/Parcel Locker installations and Shared EV Schemes and Fleet Electrification and data monitoring as part of SGL.

My background is within education, sport, planning, retail, and behaviour change. Previously working in numerous schools, private organisations, and local authorities. I have an undergrad in Sport and Community Development and have recently become an alumni at the University of Westminster, following the completion of my MSc in Psychology in February 2023. The great benefit of joining CRP is being able to offer an array of experience across several fields and working across several workstreams to support a better London for tomorrow.

CRP Project Officer Sobastian Frazer – sobastianfrazer@crossriverpartnership.org

We’re really pleased to be working with our client EC BID, City of London, on a three-month social media campaign throughout the summer. #SummerinEC celebrates all that the Eastern City has to offer! Themes for each summer month are:

June: Green Spaces
July: Iconic Buildings and Places
August: Hospitality Offering

Check out EC BID’s social media channels for more information.

For further information about CRP’s Communications Offering, please contact CRP Communications Project Manager Rachael Aldridge – rachaelaldridge@crossriverpartnership.org

Work continues apace to consider the opportunity for moving more freight into Waterloo Station, London Borough of Lambeth, by rail, as well as moving freight onwards across London via zero emissions modes e.g. e-cargo bikes.

Studies are underway by organisations Network Rail, Steer and Intermodality, to:

Assess freight rail line timetable capacity
Quantify the positive economic, community and environmental impacts of a rail-fed freight hub at Waterloo
Identify exemplar case studies of best practice for any future hub to aim towards

The studies are being funded by CRP’s Defra Air Quality grant, as well as by the Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT).

Study results will be available before Autumn. For further information please contact CRP Sustainable Transport Manager Ross Phillips – rossphillips@crossriverpartnership.org or CRP’s Director Susannah Wilks – susannahwilks@crossriverpartnership.org

It’s the final month of CRP’s Clean Air Logistics for London (CALL) Programme and CRP has been as busy as ever! Here’s a quick overview of what we’ve been up to this month:

We’ve been working on an event to celebrate the launch of The London Light Freight Walking Trial. As part of this, there is an opportunity for businesses in the local area to see the e-walker in action and hear about how to get involved in the trial.
This month the third drop was successfully completed as part of CRP’s ‘River Freight Pilot – Part 2‘. A Q&A session was recorded to help businesses understand how they can get involved.
The third month of data has been provided for the Westminster City Council Micro Logistics Hub trial. We will be sharing these in a final report once the trial is complete.
The retrofit of ‘The Albert’ (to make the vessel fully electric) is also nearing completion and the vessel has been renamed to Alb-E.
We have also sent out a request for proposal, for a courier to occupy an urban logistics hub in London Borough of Wandsworth at the Southside Shopping Centre. This will be delivered in a similar way to the hub with Westminster City Council and learnings will be shared as part of CRP’s Smarter Greener Logistics (SGL) programme.
Several reports and models have also been commissioned in relation to the Waterloo Freight Hub. These are designed to show the impact of a freight hub at Waterloo station and highlight the economic, environmental and social benefits that this would bring to the local area and London more widely.

CRP would like to thank all of the partners involved in our Clean Air Logistics for London (CALL) programme for working with us to make it such a success.

For more information please contact CRP Senior Programme Manager Fiona Coull – fionacoull@crossriverpartnership.org

Archives: News Articles

World Maritime Day

International Coworking Day

New Starter: Alejandra Bolanos Martinez

Moving On!

Thames Freight Infrastructure Report Launch

Happy Summer Season!

Charlie and Sobastian: First Month at CRP

EC BID Social Media Strategy – #SummerinEC

Freight at Waterloo

Clean Air Logistics for London: Thank You