LOADING-BAN POWERS CHANGED IN LORDS
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BY OUR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT
FOLLOWING urgent representations made in previous debates, . important changes in the provision in the Road Traffic Bill concerning the unloading and loading of vehicles were made when the measure had its third reading in the House of Lords on Monday. Lord Selkirk, for the Government, introduced a new amendment which slightly extended the actions and powers of local authorities by giving them the right to decide on one-way traffic operation.
The Government had added this provision to powers to make orders prohibiting or restricting the waiting of vehicles, but at the same time the Minister of Transport was to have the power to revoke or amend any such regulations.
Any revocation he made would last for only a year, at the end of which time the local authority could pass another resolution. The Minister's approach to this matter would be that he would assume that the decision of the local authority was right until the contrary was proved or shown to his satisfaction.
He. would accordingly, after the authorities had decided upon regulations Which they wished to impose, give them a reasonable and full trial before interfering himself, if he decided to do so, or if evidence was brought to him that the regulations did not work, or were unsatisfactory.
Lord Selkirk made it clear that any limitation on loading or unloading for more than six hours out of the 24 was automatically invalid. Any inquiry must necessarily be in regard to some period shorter than six hours.
Coupled with the provisions of the 1930 Act, any regulation must provide for reasonable access. If there were not reasonable access, the regulation would be invalid. The amendment was agreed. The Government accepted an amendment from Lord Gifford to ensure that restrictions on loading and unloading were not applicable to public service vehicles.
When the Bill was in its report stage in the Lords last week, Lord Mancroft, for the Government, moved an amend ment, which was approved, providing that the Minister should make regulations concerning vehicles or trains of vehicles exceeding the prescribed length to provide special lighting for them.
Lord Lucas welcomed the amendment. He had earlier urged that movements by large vehicles and loads should be confined to the hours of darkness, but it was pointed out to him that they were difficult enough to drive by day.
Lord Howe called for roads on which such loads would not be a danger, and which could take abnormal indivisible traffic without the necessity of difficult regulations.