Reward for
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Resistance
ALL operators of goods vehicles have reason to be grateful to the Metropolitan Traffic Liaison Committee of the Traders' Road Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association. Although only traders in London, and hauliers and others who have to deliver gods in the Metropolis, are immediately affected by the Minister of Transport's new plans to speed up traffic in London, those in the provinces will, in the long term, benefit by the action which the liaison committee have taken to protect the interests of commercial-vehicle users.
The Minister's earlier proposals to limit waiting by all vehicles in many of the busiest commercial streets in the capital contained a dangerous precedent that might quickly have been followed in other congested cities. By their vigorous and well-informed efforts, the liaison committee have convinced the Minister of the importance to the economic life of the country of relative freedom to load and unload at traders' premises.
The Minister Primed Knowledge that he has thus acquired will be of great value to him when he comes to consider restrictions proposed in provincial centres, and commercial-vehicle operators throughout the country will reap the rewards of the initiative taken in London.
The committee's campaign against unreasonable limitations has been conducted with determination. Part of its success is undoubtedly attributable to the skill with which good relations have been established with organizations of traders, with local councils and the Press.
The committee had the story to tell and they gave all the facts simply and truthfully. An atmosphere of confidence was created, with the result that the newspapers followed with interest the progress of negotiations with the Minister.
These culminated in his announcement in the House of Commons. last week, of his new plans to deal with London traffic. Under them, restrictions on goods vehicles in Central London Will be• reduced. Mr. Hugh Molson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry, has assured the committee that no limit on loading and unloading will be imposed unless it is unavoidable.
No bans are to.be imposed in 47 of the 78 streets in which restrictions had been proposed, and in others the extent of the limitations will be reduced. The period during which complete prohibition on waiting at five important road intersections is to be enforced, is to be approximately halved. This concession follows the postponement, is a result of the liaison committee's efforts, of the experiment by about two months. The committee have good reason to be pleased with this double success.
Responsibilities of Operators In return for these concessions, they have assured the Minister of their full co-operation. They have thereby pledged each operator to ensure that the minimum of obstruction is caused to traffic by vehicles collecting and delivering goods.
The concessions granted and other plans expounded by the Minister to speed up traffic show that the Government have at last seen the light of reality. All that remains to be done is to translate plans into action.
Completion of the Cromwell Road extension, the recommencement of work on the DartfordPurfleet tunnel, and the construction of a new double-track road from Aldersgate Street to Moorgate are urgently .needed to facilitate the movement of essential traffic and have been awarded priority. No less important is an attack on the parking problem by building underground car parks in London squares and allowing cars to stand in the Royal parks.
As several experts have recently pointed out, there is little point in spending vast sums on the construction of new trunk roads if the saving in time thereby yielded is lost in congested cities. Although they are welcome, the proposals announced last week by the Minister hardly begin to grapple with the great problem of London traffic and much more drastic measures will have to be taken if strangulation is to be avoided. What other plans has the Minister to offer?