Ilext Week
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IAJOR EVENT in the transport calendar -le Freight Transport Association's ional conference, held in Londoil on dnesday and Thursday this week. y a stroke of fortune, its opening icided with the Greater London nci I's first serious look at the Wood )ort and the prospects of lorry bans, chairman Derek Wood's thoughts on own report were heard by the FTA, y minutes after he arrived from the cial GLC meeting.
he conference was also Hugh itherstone's swansong. After 25 years ransport, he is bowing out as FTA actor-general and in an hour of well;erved self-indulgence was looking at way the industry and the country has reloped over that period.
'ransport Secretary Tom King, giving first major address on the freight -isport industry, was another star -action, and the ETA's multi-modal arests were represented by other Iference sessions on: the future of Isport and distribution, with three wellAwn specialists giving their views; rail ight after the Serpell Report; and nagement, jobs and manpower. dews editor Alan Millar and reporter Cobb were there, and a full three-page lart on the deliberations of the FTA will Jeer in next week's issue.
t is not impossible to envisage :urnstances which could alter even this vernment's policy in the direction of Ire restriction in road transport. An oil ;is is one, writes Janus, who argues that rould be foolish to equate all forms of )acity control with railway protection. :ecutters, not railways, he says, are the enemy of the professional haulier lay. You can read more in CM next ek. • How many operators have heard of the Council on Tribunals? Its advice given to the Government is likely to affect their businesses. The Road Haulage Association and the FTA have suggested radical changes to the latest 0-licensing proposals, but the Department of Transport is most unlikely to agree without first going to the Council. Find out what's happening by reading Looking at Legislation — in CM next week.
• While the tri-axle option has been initially the most popular choice for 38tonne operation, many operators are looking at three-axle conversions for their 4x2 tractive units, writes Bill Brock. His feature on this subject is in CM next week.
• But our biggest features in our next issue come from Coach Fair 83, organised by CM and Travel News. Our passenger editor, Noel Mil lier, reports on the conference and discussion. There will also be a full report on the exhibition of coaches as well as the displays inside.