Emission tests
Page 18
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The RAC has argued consistently for targeted roadside emissions enforcement but is totally opposed to local authorities assuming those statutory powers (CM 3-9 Nov 1994), The London Local Authorities Bill, currently before Parliament, seeks to give the London boroughs powers to stop and fine polluting drivers.
The RAC has conducted roadside emissions tests throughout the country for four years. The argument in favour of effective and targeted enforcement is clear cut, but the RAC is convinced that no one but the police should have the power to stop drivers.
Enforcement must be conducted in a consistent and fair way. We are not convinced that local authorities could offer that consistency.
We are worried by the prospect of 32 different boroughs, with 32 different standards, dressed in 32 different uniforms having the right to stop drivers in the Capital.
The police and the Vehicle Inspectorate already have the powers they need to ensure enforcement. We do not need this legislation.
Richard Woods Campaigns co-ordinator, RAC, London.
Missing movies
Toby Clark's feature on trucks in films (CM 22 Dec 19944 Jan 1995) refers to some of the classic trucking films, wastes a lot of time on films that imply trucks by their titles (but fail to deliver) and misses out the all-time classic—the 1957 Maxwell Set-ton production starring Victor Mature and Diana Dors called The Long Haul. The film features a Leyland Octopus performing some pretty heroic feats!
I would challenge some of Toby's comments—Due/ deserves a raspberry not an Oscar: it is just heavy-handed anti-lorry propaganda. Hell Drivers features civilian "parrot-nosed" Dodges, not ex-army trucks.
True, Georges Henri Clouzot's Wages of Fear ranks as the best film featuring trucks but for those of us who are interested in "normal" haulage The Long Haul gets a high rating. 17 Bestione was excellent too. Then there's Road Games starring Stacey Keatch and an impressive IVIerc six-axle out-fit in Australia. But there are just not enough trucking films—reflecting the general public's anti-lorry attitude. Peter Davies
Flitwick, Bedford.
Newbury nonsense
IT have just read the article road building cuts and I and many other transport operators in this area are particularly annoyed that the Newbury bypass scheme A34/M4 has been postponed (GI/ 22 Dec 1994-4 Jan 1995.
This has been a notorious problem for many years and is getting worse. Since 1986 there have been local inquiries plus the final public inquiry which came out in favour.
Steven Norris MP. speaking in Newbury. said what a good idea it was and confirmed the start was to be made early 1995. The local Newbury Weekly News is inviting people to telephone a hot line with a yes or no vote because local people (especially business people) are incensed.
We try to avoid using the stretch of road like the plague, but many truck and coach operators do not have our local knowledge and get delayed sometimes for over an hour. There is something strange about this particular project being "postponed". Apparently Transport Secretary Brian Mawhinney made a private visit to Newbury recently to see for himself and he said he was delayed by traffic, but he still allowed the postponement. Why did he make the visit? It is most unusual, so he must have thought it important.
Have the members of the Royal Commission or the Standing Advisory Committee been getting at him?
Ken Darvall Managing directon Robert Darvall, Reading, Berkshire.
Jailed drivers
T t was interesting to learn of 1 the threatened march to back jailed truck drivers later this month.
Unfortunately the article (CM 22 Dec 19944 Jan 1995) may have given your readers the impression that the Fair Trials Abroad movement has given the demonstration its official blessing, which we cannot do.
We do understand the frustration behind the idea. Truckers throughout Europe are both angry and frightened about what may happen to them as a result of others interfering with their loads, particularly when they are out of their native country On 17 January an all-party meeting is to be held in the House of Commons about those Britons suffering injustice in Europe. Dr Marjorie Movvlem, who has more than one constituent suffering from the sort of problems mentioned in your article, has convened the meeting.
While the meeting is not specifically about drivers, all those concerned are well aware that drivers are the most vulnerable occupational group when it comes to legal discrimination against "foreigners".
A number of members of Parliament frustrated by their inability to help their driver constituents individually are sponsoring the meeting. Prominent
among them is Roy and Virginia Clarke's MP Sir Archie Hamilton.
When one comes to look at the long-term solutions to drivers' problems, action is required by several Government departments. We hope that out of this meeting some method of keeping these issues under more permanent parliamentary scrutiny may eventually emerge.
We urge drivers to write now to their MPs suggesting that they take an interest in the meeting.
Stephen Jakobi Chairman, Fair Trials International, Richmond, Surrey
Still on track
T was pleased to see your 1 coverage of what could prove to be the most exciting railfreight opportunity since the opening of the Channel Tunnel. Railtrack has confirmed that the total infrastructure project to raise the gauge will cost under £100m and not £70m as stated in your article. As this is an increase in the initial estimate, albeit relatively
Railtrack will need to revisit the commercial case before proceeding to the next stage, which will be a full feasibility study. I am extremely hopeful that this will still support the proposal and the project can proceed to the timescales indicated.
David Hughes is right to remind us that international freight trains are already operating using swapbody technology and it is vital that piggyback is developed as a complementary option for rail users, rather than seeking to compete with the rapidly growing facilities already available, Nick Fulcher National freight manager, Railtrack, London.
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