Menzies Distribution has revealed its ‘Commonwealth Games Logistics Plan’, which aims to keep deliveries moving in Glasgow and the central belt this summer, as Scotland prepares to welcome the world during the Commonwealth Games.
With less than three months to go until the Games, the city is preparing for an influx of around 6,500 athletes, 1,500 representatives of the wider Commonwealth Games Family, 6,000 journalists and over one million spectators.
Menzies Distribution’s action plan is based upon the official Games Route Network (GRN), released at the beginning of April, which identifies the road networks in Glasgow which will be affected by diversions, delays or closures during the Games in July and August.
With more information about the route expected to be announced over the coming days and weeks, Menzies Distribution has so far identified around 600 of its retailers who are expected to be directly impacted by the GRN. These customers are situated on 30 of the company’s main delivery routes.
Plans to ensure retailers receive their newspaper deliveries and retail stock on time during the 11 day event are based on the successful implementation of a special ‘Games’ strategy established by Menzies Distribution during the London 2012 Olympic Games. This saw the business achieve a 100% on-time delivery rate, despite the congestion.
Information on the route network announced so far indicates that there might be more of an impact on congestion during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow compared to the impact that the Olympic Games had on congestion in London during 2012. In London, activity was spread across a very large area during the Olympics, while in Glasgow events are taking place in a relatively small area between the East End and the SECC, meaning there will be an increase in the likelihood of congestion.
Grant Keogh, Menzies Distribution’s ‘Games planner’ said: “It’s all about preparation when it comes to the Games, as we know first-hand from our experience at the London Olympics. We are putting the lessons we learned then into practice now, as we aim to manage deliveries on time to retailers during the games this Summer. From the Linwood ‘control centre’ my team and I map out venues, event days and restrictions, as well as routes and businesses affected as information is released from organisers. We are well-prepared and working hard to ensure that delays are minimal. We will be keeping all of our retailers up-to-date to ensure that where we identify issues, we communicate these quickly to the businesses that are relying on us.”
