Canal freight under Labour
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• Moves to reduce the number of heavy lorries on London's roads gathered strength this week when GLC Labour leader, Sir Reginald Goodwin, told CM: "A Labour GLC would give high priority to making more use of Britain's canal system for carrying freight."
The pledge came just a week after the British Waterways Board announced it is to open discussion with the GLC on a development plan for the Grand Union Canal. (CM March 9.) The plan would incorporate bigger barges to ferry freight from a depot near Watford to Limehouse. They say Continental freight could go out via the Thames estuary.
Speaking last week at British Waterways' Brentford Dock, Sir Reginald said: "Unfortunately, road haulage interests have blinded the Tories to the 50-lane highway on the steps of County Hall which is barely used, crosses London from East to West and costs nothing to build".