Thames barge to make supermarket deliveries

Three of Britain's biggest supermarket chains could begin transporting goods along London's waterways.

Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose are making plans to deliver goods on barges in an attempt to cut their carbon footprints.

Sainsbury's tested transporting tinned goods and wine on the Thames last year. At the time the firm complained of a lack of port facilities but now says it is keen to develop water transport.

A Sainsbury's spokeswoman said: "Because the Thames isn't normally used for that purpose the lack of infrastructure on the river made it a problem.

"We have given our feedback to the Port of London Authority and this is something we would like to make happen. If the infrastructure was there we would have continued. We are exploring how to go forward."

Tesco already transports wine and water along the Manchester Ship Canal, taking the equivalent of 50 lorries off the road each week. Now the company is looking at using other waterways the same way. A Tesco spokesman said: "Canals are being evaluated and it's possible London ones will be used soon."

Waitrose said it was working out the logistics of transporting goods via water to its stores.

Current freight deliveries on the Thames, mostly construction waste and recycled refuse, already remove an estimated 250,000 lorries from the road each year. Environmental concerns and the rising cost of road transport have increased interest in the idea of shipping goods.

Del Brenner, of the London Waterways Commission, said ministers, British Waterways and the Port of London Authority should work harder to encourage companies to use the capital's canals and rivers.

"Canals can be quicker than roads, and are much more environmentally friendly," he said.

But Richard Bourn of the Campaign for Better Transport said the firms need to start acting rather than just talking. He added: "We'd like to see supermarkets put their money where their mouths are."