Lorry network to be dumped
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PLANS to set up a nationwide network of lorry routes are almost certain to be scrapped.
But while the Government is making its final decision, local authorities should go ahead with schemes under the Dykes Act.
This became clear last week following a statement by Transport Under Secretary John Horam. And his reply to Commons questions has upset the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association.
MERITS Both bodies are dead against unco-ordinated county schemes. A spokesman for the RHA said that it will continue its opposition to such plans.
The FTA said that it would look at each scheme on its merits.
"We would certainly support local authorities who want to deal with purely minor local problems. But we believe they should not embark on major schemes in the absence of a national decision," said an ETA spokesman.
Mr Horam said that comments on the national plan were still being considered. He was anxious to come to a swift decision, but all the points that had been made had to be considered. And, unfortunately, there were conflicting opinions.
Mr Max Madden (Labour, Sowerby) said that the inordinate delay in the announcement of the proposals was causing widespread uncertainty, not least to local authorities who, by law, were supposed to submit their own schemes by the beginning of the New Year.
If the scheme were to be scrapped, as was widely rumoured, could this be announced at the earliest possible date?
Mr Horam was confident that local authorities could make proposals under the Dykes Act which would make a lot of sense.
In many ways the best solution was to build up from the bottom by banning lorries from sensitive areas.