London Dock Chief Calls for Co-ordination
Page 39
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ACALL for more discussion and co-ordination between everyone using this country's docks was made in London on Monday by Viscount Simon, chairman of the Port of London Authority, Purely in his personal capacity, he was presenting a paper on "Seaports as links in the transport chain " to the Institute of Transport.
General experience over the past 30 years, Viscount Simon said, had been of falling rail traffic to and from ports. and increasing road traffic. This called for redevelopment of the lines of access. `'` It seems to me," he said, " that there is room for better co-ordination between the various authorities and administrations concerned, and this might bring substantial results."
Later he said, speaking of the present congested situation in the docks: "1 find it hard to believe that intelligmt co-operation between the interests concerned cannot do better than this. We might do some good if we got together again and
examined this question with unbiassed minds."
He also warned that increasing use of roll-on, roll-off" ships and container ships meant a need for bigger marshalling areas in ports. He could not believe that the present difficulties being experienced in using mechanical handling were insurmountable.
PORTS DEVELOPMENT URGED
A SUGGESTION that more encourage f. should be given to development of ports away from the " magnet " of London is made by Essex county planning committee in a report on town planning. highways and internal transport systems.
This is to be considered by the County Councils Association, who are at present preparing a memorandum of evidence for the Ministry of Transport Rochdale Committee of Inquiry into the major ports of Great Britain. "