Virtual Loading Bay Launches in City of London

Cross River Partnership (CRP), a non-profit and impartial partnership organisation, are excited to announce that the Watling Street Virtual Loading Bay is now live in the City of London Corporation. The Virtual Loading Bay is located outside of the Ye Olde Watling pub and will be available to book, free of charge, for a trial period of 6 months.

Virtual Loading Bays allow registered delivery drivers to pre-book dedicated space at the kerbside to load and unload using Grid Kerb Delivery booking application. The trial will focus on the servicing of Ye Olde Watling and Williamson Tavern as a specific use case and will also be available to local businesses in the Watling Street area.

The Watling Street Virtual Loading Bay forms part of CRP’s Kerbside Management Trial and is being delivered in partnership between City of London Corporation, Grid Smarter Cities and Cross River Partnership. The trial uses Grid’s Virtual Loading Bay technology to dynamically manage the kerbside and aims to improve congestion and air quality in the local area.

Find out more about the trial and how to book the Virtual Loading Bays here: https://gridsmartercities.com/smarter-greener-logistics-crp/

The Kerbside Management Trial is part of Smarter Greener Logistics (SGL) a Defra-funded project led by Westminster City Council in collaboration with 25 project partners. The project aims to minimise the impact of freight on noise, air quality, traffic and pavement space in London by making improvements across 14 London boroughs and two London Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).

Project Partner Testimonials:

 

Chairman of the City of London Corporation Streets and Walkways Committee, Graham Packham, said:

“We are pleased to be working in partnership with colleagues at Cross River Partnership and Grid Smarter Cities to deliver this 6-month trial of a Virtual Loading Bay. We hope that freight operators being able to book a slot for loading will minimise conflicts between vehicles, provide air quality benefits, and enable more efficient servicing for businesses in the vicinity of Watling Street, and look forward to the results of the trial.”

 

Grid Smarter Cities Commercial Development Manager, Laura Jacklin said:

“This location in particular will help to see how deliveries interact around times of pedestrianisation of streets, ensuring that businesses still get their deliveries before the street closes to vehicles. We look forward to seeing how the Virtual Loading Bay can help different sectors still have space to deliver and help businesses continue to flourish.”

 

Cross River Partnership Project Manager, Katherine Fairfax said:

“Cross River Partnership are delighted to launch the Watling Street Virtual Loading Bay in collaboration with the City of London Corporation and Grid Smarter Cities. The trial provides an exciting opportunity to test an innovative kerbside solution and understand the impact on congestion and air pollution in London.”