A A recent article (New law .L.threatens Truckfest, Bird's Eye View
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CM 22-28 September) has raised quite unnecessary alarms in the trucking world by claiming that the Criminal Justice Bill. which outlaws "gatherings of more than six vehicles in which the occupants live",
could be used to target professional lorry drivers.
I believe that your correspondent has misinterpreted the meaning of the term "living" as defined by the Bill. My understanding is that the term could be properly applied only to those persons for whom the vehicle is their main or only residence. To infer otherwise would be to put at risk every truckstop, lorry park, transport cafe, motorway service area, camp and caravan site in the country.
It would also, 1 think, be at odds with other statutory obligations, like the requirement placed upon owners of motorway service areas to provide space for what would become, in effect, illegal gatherings.
Such a threat, particularly to MSAs and caravan sites, would force the Government into conflict with two of the most powerful lobbying groups in the country if we have to face a common commercial threat, I cannot think of more effective allies than Trust House Forte and the National Farmers Union.
Having said that, I would not entirely dismiss the prospect. The common link between New Age travellers, at whom the Bill is clearly targeted, and events such as Truckfest, is disturbance.
The passing of the Bill may he an appropriate juncture at which to consider the conduct of that irritating minority who seem hell bent on maximising their enjoyment at the expense of everyone else.
Although I accept the difficulty in distinguishing between genuine exuberance and irresponsibility, I am in no doubt that raucous behaviour, including the sounding of air horns, into the early hours of the morning poses a greater threat to any event than the
mere existence of this Bill.
However, if my interpretation is wrong and lorries are unfairly targeted, the road transport industry can safely rely on the support of the United Road Transport Union in its resistance. While URTU members are not normally predisposed to acts of militancy, anyone who thinks they can treat professional lorry drivers and New Age travellers as one and the same is in for a rough ride—with LIRTU in the driving seat!
David Iligginbotiom, General Secretary,
URTU,
Manchester
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